Department of Archaeology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3DZ, UK.
Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Vautierstraat 29, 1000 Brussels, Belgium; Department of Archaeology, Ghent University, Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat 35, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
Int J Paleopathol. 2023 Jun;41:43-49. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpp.2023.03.001. Epub 2023 Mar 21.
To characterize patterns in the taxonomic diversity of parasites infecting the population of Aalst, Belgium, between the 12th and 17th centuries.
14 sediment samples from seven cesspits dated 1100-1700 CE.
Digital light microscopy and Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
We identified eggs of four species of helminths: whipworm (Trichuris trichiura), roundworm (Ascaris lumbricoides), Echinostoma fluke and Dicrocoelium fluke. ELISA results for protozoal parasites were negative.
Taxonomic diversity of parasite infections remained constant from the 12th to the 17th centuries. Roundworm and whipworm, spread by poor sanitation, were dominant. Two species of zoonotic parasites were also identified, including for the first time ever in the Low Countries the Echinostoma fluke, which may have been spread by eating uncooked freshwater animal foods.
Analysis of sediment samples spanning such a broad chronology (six centuries) from a single city offers the opportunity to track diachronic change, which is rare in paleoparasitological studies.
We were unable to acquire samples from cesspits dating to the 14th century.
Additional data from other Low Countries towns may strengthen the patterns identified in this paper. A similar approach can be used to investigate towns in different regions of the world.
描述 12 至 17 世纪期间比利时阿尔斯特（Aalst）人群中寄生虫的分类多样性模式。
7 个粪坑的 14 个沉积物样本，日期为 1100-1700 年 CE。
数字光显微镜和酶联免疫吸附测定（ELISA）。
我们鉴定出了 4 种蠕虫的卵：鞭虫（Trichuris trichiura）、蛔虫（Ascaris lumbricoides）、Echinostoma 吸虫和双腔吸虫。原生动物寄生虫的 ELISA 结果为阴性。
从 12 世纪到 17 世纪，寄生虫感染的分类多样性保持不变。由于卫生条件差而传播的蛔虫和鞭虫占主导地位。还确定了两种人畜共患寄生虫，包括首次在低地国家发现的 Echinostoma 吸虫，它可能是通过食用未煮熟的淡水动物食品传播的。
对来自单个城市的如此广泛的时间跨度（六个世纪）的沉积物样本进行分析提供了跟踪历时变化的机会，这在古寄生虫学研究中很少见。
我们无法从 14 世纪的粪坑中获取样本。
来自其他低地国家城镇的额外数据可能会加强本文中确定的模式。可以采用类似的方法来研究世界不同地区的城镇。
