New evidence of Entamoeba histolytica infections in pre-Columbian and colonial cemeteries in the Caribbean.
ELISA was used to test the presence of the human pathogenic amoeba Entamoeba histolytica in archaeological samples from 2 cemeteries in Guadeloupe, in the Caribbean. Results show that 15.9% of the population was infected during the colonial period, a value comparable to the current rates observed in humans in adjacent countries. This study also confirms the presence of the current strain of E. histolytica in pre-Columbian South America before the European colonization in the 15th century and raises the possibility of an earlier transfer from Europe to the Americas.
University of Franche-Comte, CNRS UMR 6249 Chrono-environment, 16 route de Gray, F-25030 Besancon cedex, France;
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Le Bailly
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Romon
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Kacki
D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis; D055699:Cemeteries / Q000266:history; D004748:Entamoeba histolytica / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004749:Entamoebiasis / Q000266:history*; D019430:Guadeloupe; D049670:History, 17th Century; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049690:History, Ancient; D049691:History, Medieval; D006801:Humans; D010164:Paleopathology
D000953:Antigens, Protozoan