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      Diagnosing ancient Diphyllobothriasis from Chinchorro mummies

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          Abstract

          Diphyllobothrium pacificum has been reported as a human parasite from coprolites and skeletons in Peru and Chile. Our analysis of Chinchorro mummies from Chile provides the oldest evidence of D. pacificum directly associated with human mummies. These mummies date between 4,000 and 5,000 years ago. The basis for our diagnosis is presented. We find that the size of the eggs in the mummies is smaller than other discoveries of D. pacificum. We suggest that this is due to the peculiar circumstances of preservation of parasite eggs within mummies and the release of immature eggs into the intestinal tract as the tapeworms decompose after the death of the host. This information is important to consider when making diagnoses from mummies.

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          Most cited references14

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          Archaeoparasitology in North America.

          K Reinhard (1990)
          The study of prehistoric parasitism through analysis of coprolites, mummies, skeletons, and latrine soils is rapidly growing. Its development in North America is interdisciplinary and is derived from the fields of physical anthropology, parasitology, and archaeology. The various parasite finds from North America are reviewed. The data show that prehistoric peoples in North America suffered from a variety of parasitic diseases. The validity of the findings are then considered. Although most finds of parasites from prehistoric contexts result from human infections, some finds cannot be verified as such. However, in combination with data from South America, it is clear that prehistoric peoples in the Americas were host to a variety of human parasites, some of which were not previously thought to be present before historic times.
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            Parasitology as an Interpretive Tool in Archaeology

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              Parasitological Studies of Coprolites of Pre-Hispanic Peruvian Populations

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                Author and article information

                Journal
                mioc
                Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz
                Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz
                Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Ministério da Saúde (Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil )
                0074-0276
                1678-8060
                January 2003
                : 98
                : suppl 1
                : 191-193
                Affiliations
                [02] Omaha orgnameFood Safety & Inspection Service Technical Service Center orgdiv1Department of Agriculture orgdiv2Veterinary Medical Officer USA
                [01] Lincoln orgnameUniversity of Nebraska-Lincoln orgdiv1School of Natural Resource Sciences USA
                Article
                S0074-02762003000900028 S0074-0276(03)09800028
                10.1590/S0074-02762003000900028
                03056427-e32a-4d5e-bfeb-d8f049c616ae

                This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

                History
                : 26 August 2002
                : 25 November 2002
                Page count
                Figures: 0, Tables: 0, Equations: 0, References: 12, Pages: 3
                Product

                SciELO Brazil

                Categories
                Paleoparasitology in the Old and New World

                mummy,archaeoparasitology,Diphyllobothrium pacificum

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