Paleoparasitological analysis of a human coprolite dated of 7880±150 years from Patagonia Austral

FUGASSA, M.H. Y ARAUJO, A.

Río de Janeiro, Brasil

Congreso; 1º Paleopatholohy Association Meeting in South America; 2005

We present the first results of the paleoparasitogical analysis of a human coprolite. The  coprolite was collected in the archaeological site of Cerro Casa de Piedra 7 (CCP7), Santa Cruz, Argentina. The archaeological layer was dated of 7880 ±150 AP. Surface and interior fragments of the coprolite were extracted,rehydrated in trisodium-phosphate, and processed by spontaneous sedimentation. Forty slides of each fragment were analyzed. Hymenolepis sp. and Ancylostoma sp. eggs were identified. Cocccidian oocysts were also identified. This is the first record of hookworm eggs in Argentina, and the oldest find in South America.