Paleoparasitological results for rodent coprolites from Santa Cruz Province, Argentina.
The aim of this study was to examine the parasite remains present in rodent coprolites collected from the archaeological site Alero Destacamento Guardaparque (ADG) located in the Perito Moreno National Park (Santa Cruz Province, 47 degrees 57'S 72 degrees 05'W). Forty-eight coprolites were obtained from the layers 7, 6 and 5 of ADG, dated at 6,700 +/- 70, 4,900 +/- 70 and 3,440 +/- 70 years BP, respectively. The faecal samples were processed and examined using paleoparasitological procedures. A total of 582 eggs of parasites were found in 47 coprolites. Samples were positive for eggs of Trichuris sp. (Nematoda: Trichuridae), Calodium sp., Eucoleus sp., Echinocoleus sp. and an unidentified capillariid (Nematoda: Capillariidae) and for eggs of Monoecocestus (Cestoda: Anoplocephalidae). Quantitative differences among layer for both coprolites and parasites were recorded. In this study, the specific filiations of parasites, their zoonotic importance, the rodent identity, on the basis of previous zooarchaeological knowledge, and the environmental conditions during the Holocene in the area are discussed.
Sardella
Norma Haydée
NH
Laboratorio de Paleoparasitología, Universidad Nacional de Mar Del Plata, Mar del Plata, Argentina. sardella@mdp.edu.ar
Fugassa
Martín Horacio
MH
Rindel
Diego Damián
DD
Goñi
Rafael Agustín
RA
D000818:Animals; D001118:Argentina; D002589:Cestoda / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology*; D005580:Fossils; D006374:Helminthiasis, Animal / Q000266:history* / Q000469:parasitology; D049690:History, Ancient; D009348:Nematoda / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010164:Paleopathology; D010270:Parasite Egg Count; D012377:Rodentia / Q000469:parasitology*