IIMYC   23581
INSTITUTO DE INVESTIGACIONES MARINAS Y COSTERAS
Unidad Ejecutora - UE
congresos y reuniones científicas
Título:
Parasites and rodents in the Patagonian Holocene: an approach from Paleoparasitology
Autor/es:
BELTRAME, MARÍA ORNELA; BELLUSCI, AGUSTÍN; TIETZE, ELEONOR; SARDELLA, NORMA HAYDEÉ; CAÑAL VICTORIA
Lugar:
Arica
Reunión:
Congreso; Paleopathology Meeting in South America; 2017
Resumen:
Micromammal remains are generally abundant in archaeological and paleontological sites in Patagonia. Sequences of small mammals have been the focus of several studies during the last decade in the area, centered on taphonomic, paleoenvironmental and biogeographic features of these assemblages. In the last years, these remains began to be used in paleoparasitological studies. Palaeoparasitology is the study of parasite remains from archaeological and paleontological sites, focused on the knowledge of parasite-induced illness of humans in the past and on the paleoecological knowledge of the environment, ecology, settlement, diet, hygiene and health in the antiquity. Rodents are important components of biodiversity of South America. The relevance of rodents as hosts in parasitic life-cycles has been fully recognized. Also, their role as reservoirs of zoonoses has long been known and represents one of the most important sources of zoonoses for mammals. The aim of the present study is to synthesize the paleoparasitological findings of rodent parasites found at present from diverse sites from Patagonia. Samples studied were coprolites of micromammals and owl regurgitedwhich belonged to different archaeological and paleontological sites along the Patagonia named ?Cerro Casa de Piedra?, ?Cueva Huenul 1?, ?Los Altares Profile?, ?Epullán Chica?, ?Alero Las Lechuzas?, ?Alero Mazquiarán? and ?Alero Destacamento Guardaparque?. These sites were dated between the Pleistocene-Holocene Transition to Late Holocene. The presence of rodent parasites in ancient times can provide useful and valuable information, as rodent paleoparasitological data can be used from diverse points of view. Anthropologists, biologists, archaeologists and paleontologists can use this data to reconstruct ancient events based on the parasite life cycles and on the biological requirements to maintain the transmission from host to host.