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Assessing parasite epidemiology in the epidemiological importance of Patagonian Late Holocene rockshelters using carnivore coprolites in the past: new data from Piedra Parada, Argentina

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 August 2022

Martín H. Fugassa Open the ORCID record for Martín H. Fugassa [Opens in a new window] ,
Pablo M. Fernández ,
Cristina Bellelli  and
Mariana Carballido Calatayud
Martín H. Fugassa*
Affiliation:
Laboratorio de Parasitología de Sitios Arqueológicos, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Mar del Plata, Argentina Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Pablo M. Fernández
Affiliation:
Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina Instituto Nacional de Antropología y Pensamiento Latinoamericano, Buenos Aires, Argentina Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Cristina Bellelli
Affiliation:
Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina Instituto Nacional de Antropología y Pensamiento Latinoamericano, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Mariana Carballido Calatayud
Affiliation:
Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina Instituto Nacional de Antropología y Pensamiento Latinoamericano, Buenos Aires, Argentina Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
*
Author for correspondence: Martín H. Fugassa, E-mail: mhfugassa@gmail.com
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Abstract

The aim of this research was to analyse the variability of parasite assemblages on a small spatial scale, by examining carnivore coprolites from the archaeological site Campo Moncada 2 (CM2), Piedra Parada area, Chubut province, Argentina, and comparing the results with those previously obtained from the archaeological site Campo Cerda 1 (CCe1), located in the same area. Six carnivore coprolites from CM2 were analysed: 4 obtained in sub-level 2a and 2 obtained in sub-level 2a/b. Two radiocarbon dates associated with the coprolites placed the samples chronologically between 780 ± 80 and 860 ± 80 years before present. The rehydrated sediments were sieved and then allowed to sediment spontaneously. The sediment was used for parasitological examination under light microscopy. Conservative estimation of total parasite richness resulted in 21 parasitic taxa. The taxa with the highest fecal prevalence (>50%) corresponded to parasites prevalent in modern carnivores (Alaria sp., Toxocara cf. canis, Toxascaris sp., Eucoleus cf. aerophila, Trichuris sp. and Ancylostomatidae gen. sp.). Assuming that the fox coprolites are contemporaneous, the total fecal parasite richness estimated for CM2 and previously for CCe1 was similar. The high total parasite richness found suggests a network of host–parasite relationships that could include regional hunter-gatherers. The results obtained in carnivore coprolites allow us to infer a very diverse biological community in Piedra Parada area, so the regional caves and rockshelters could have a proportional epidemiological importance as parasite exchange nodes.

Keywords

Carnivorescoprolitesgastrointestinal helminthsHolocene
Type
Research Article
Information
Parasitology , Volume 149 , Issue 12 , October 2022 , pp. 1556 - 1564
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press

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