title: Opisthorchiasis in infant remains from the medieval Zeleniy Yar burial ground of XII-XIII centuries AD.
abstract: We present a paleoparasitological analysis of the medieval Zeleniy Yar burial ground of the XII-XII centuries AD located in the northern part of Western Siberia. Parasite eggs, identified as eggs of Opisthorchis felineus, were found in the samples from the pelvic area of a one year old infant buried at the site. Presence of these eggs in the soil samples from the infant's abdomen suggests that he/she was infected with opisthorchiasis and imply consumption of undercooked fish. Ethnographic records collected among the population of the northern part of Western Siberia reveal numerous cases of feeding raw fish to their children. Zeleniy Yar case of opisthorchiasis suggests that this dietary custom has persisted from at least medieval times.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Problems of the Development of the North, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Tyumen, Siberia, Russia.
authors.forename: Sergey Mikhailovich
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Slepchenko
authors.affiliation: Archeology and Ethnology Sector, Archeology Department, YaNAO Arctic Research Center, Salekhard, YaNAO, Russia.
authors.forename: Alexander Vasilevich
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Gusev
authors.affiliation: Institute for Problems of the Development of the North, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Tyumen, Siberia, Russia.
authors.forename: Sergey Nikolaevich
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Ivanov
authors.affiliation: Scientific and Production Center, Center for Protection and Use of Monuments of History and Culture of Sverdlovsk Region, Institution of Culture of Sverdlovsk Region, Ekaterinburg, Urais, Russia.
authors.forename: Evgenia Olegovna
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Svyatova
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D055699:Cemeteries / Q000266:history*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005399:Fishes / Q000469:parasitology; D016266:Food Parasitology / Q000266:history; D005517:Foodborne Diseases / Q000266:history*; D049691:History, Medieval; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009106:Mummies / Q000469:parasitology*; D009889:Opisthorchiasis / Q000266:history*; D009891:Opisthorchis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010270:Parasite Egg Count / Q000266:history; D066256:Raw Foods / Q000469:parasitology*; D012800:Siberia / Q000208:ethnology; D015053:Zygote