Environmental Microbiology Laboratory, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Ecosystems & Global Change, Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research, Lincoln, New Zealand.
PLoS One. 2020 Jan 30;15(1):e0227810. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0227810. eCollection 2020.
The pre-Columbian Huecoid and Saladoid cultures were agricultural ethnic groups that supplemented their diets by fishing, hunting and scavenging. Archaeological deposits associated to these cultures contained a variety of faunal osseous remains that hinted at the cultures' diets. The present study identified zoonotic parasites that may have infected these two cultures as a result of their diets. We used metagenomic sequencing and microscopy data from 540-1,400 year old coprolites as well as the zooarchaeological data to recreate the possible interactions between zoonotic parasites and their hosts. Microscopy revealed Diphyllobothrium spp. and Dipylidium caninum eggs along with unidentified cestode and trematode eggs. DNA sequencing together with functional prediction and phylogenetic inference identified reads of Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia intestinalis and Schistosoma spp. The complimentary nature of the molecular, microscopy and zooarchaeology data provided additional insight into the detected zoonotic parasites' potential host range. Network modeling revealed that rodents and canids living in close proximity to these cultures were most likely the main source of these zoonotic parasite infections.
前哥伦布时期的休科伊德和沙拉多伊德文化是农业民族群体,他们通过捕鱼、狩猎和拾荒来补充饮食。与这些文化相关的考古沉积物中包含了各种动物骨骼遗骸,这些遗骸暗示了这些文化的饮食。本研究确定了可能因饮食而感染这两个文化的人畜共患寄生虫。我们使用了来自 540-1400 年前粪便化石的宏基因组测序和显微镜数据,以及动物园考古学数据,来重现人畜共患寄生虫与其宿主之间可能的相互作用。显微镜检查显示出阔节裂头绦虫和犬复孔绦虫的虫卵,以及未识别的绦虫和吸虫的虫卵。DNA 测序以及功能预测和系统发育推断鉴定出了隐孢子虫、贾第虫和血吸虫的reads。分子、显微镜和动物园考古学数据的互补性质为检测到的人畜共患寄生虫的潜在宿主范围提供了更多的见解。网络建模显示,与这些文化生活在一起的啮齿动物和犬科动物很可能是这些人畜共患寄生虫感染的主要来源。