Journal ArticleDOI
Prehistoric parasitism in Tennessee: evidence from the analysis of desiccated fecal material collected from Big Bone Cave, Van Buren County, Tennessee.
TLDR
Eight samples of desiccated human feces collected from Big Bone Cave were analyzed to determine the presence of ecto- and endoparasitic infection among the prehistoric population using the cave and cysts identified as Giardia were identified, the first report ofGiardia from paleofeces in the New World.Abstract:
Eight samples of desiccated human feces collected from Big Bone Cave (40VB103), Van Buren County, Tennessee, were analyzed to determine the presence of ecto- and endoparasitic infection among the prehistoric population using the cave. Radiocarbon-dated torch material from the cave indicated that it was a locus of human activity 2,177 +/- 145 yr ago. Parasitic species identified were: Ascaris lumbricoides, Enterobius vermicularis, fleas of the tribe Phalacropsyllini, and protozoan cysts. The cysts were identified as Giardia using an indirect immunofluorescent antibody test. The only report of Giardia in a prehistoric context is the identification of cysts in 2 1,800-yr-old paleofecal specimens from a cave in Israel. This is the first report of Giardia from paleofeces in the New World.read more
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Journal ArticleDOI
History of Human Parasitology
TL;DR: This review is concerned with the major helminth and protozoan infections of humans: ascariasis, trichinosis, strongyloidiasis, dracunculiasis, lymphatic filARIasis, loasis, onchocerciasis, schistosomiasis, and microsporidiosis.
Journal ArticleDOI
Human intestinal parasites in the past: new findings and a review
TL;DR: According to the findings, it is probable that A. lumbricoides was originally a human parasite and alternative routes for human parasite introduction into the Americas are discussed.
Book ChapterDOI
Ascaris and ascariasis.
TL;DR: The main purpose of the review is to see how new information may contribute to further acceptance of ascariasis as a serious contributor to ill-health and so to the design and implementation of sustainable control programmes intended to reduce the morbidity due to infection with A. lumbricoides.
Journal ArticleDOI
Parasitology as an interpretive tool in archaeology
TL;DR: Analysis of the distribution of parasite remains can be used to interpret aspects of site-formation processes and to reconstruct aspects of diet, health, and other behaviors such as transhumance and trade.
References
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Journal ArticleDOI
Ethyl acetate as a substitute for diethyl ether in the formalin-ether sedimentation technique.
TL;DR: For example, this article found that the concentration of organisms with ethyl acetate was equal to or greater than that with diethyl ether in the Formalin-ether sedimentation technique.
Journal ArticleDOI
Helminth remains from prehistoric Indian coprolites on the Colorado Plateau.
TL;DR: The study suggests that prehistoric hunter-gatherer peoples carried fewer helminth parasites than agriculturalists, and at 1 site, it appears that increasedHelminth parasitism preceded abandonment of the village.
Journal ArticleDOI
A review of the evidence of human endoparasitism in the pre-Columbian new world through the study of coprolites
TL;DR: A review of helminth eggs encountered in precontact, human coprolites and palaeofaecal material from mummified human remains of the New World is presented.
Journal Article
Seasonal Nutritional Stress in a Late Woodland Population: Suggestions from Some Eastern Kentucky Coprolites
An Archaeological Survey of Big Bone Cave, Tennessee and Diachronic Patterns of Cave Utilization in the Eastern Woodlands
TL;DR: An archaeological survey of Big Bone Cave, Tennessee was conducted by the author from August 1 9 8 4 to August 1 nine 8 5. Results of the survey indicate that numerous historic activities, particularly the mining of saltpetre, have disturbed prehistoric deposits in the cave, evidence of aboriginal use of the cave remains intact as discussed by the authors.