Work

Prehistoric Pathoecology as Represented by Parasites of a Mummy from the Peruaçu Valley, Brazil

Year: 2016

Type: review

Abstract: Paleopathologists have begun exploring the pathoecology of parasitic diseases in relation to diet and environment.We are summarizing the parasitological findings from a mummy in the site of Lapa do Boquete, a Brazilian cave in the state of Minas Gerais.These findings in context of the archaeology of the site provided insights into the pathoecology of disease transmission in cave and rockshelter environments.We are presenting a description of the site followed by the evidence of hookworm, intestinal fluke, and Trypanosoma infection with resulting Chagas disease in the mummy discovered in the cave.These findings are used to reconstruct the transmission ecology of the site.

Source: Korean Journal of Parasitology

DOI: 10.3347/kjp.2016.54.5.585

Authors: Karl J Reinhard, Adauto Araújo

Institutions: University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública Sergio Arouca, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz

Language: English

Topic: Paleopathology and ancient diseases

Subfield: Archeology

Field: Arts and Humanities

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: diamond

Funders: US-UK Fulbright Commission, Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior, Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico