First paleoparasitological study of micromammal coprolites from the holocene of the Somuncurá Plateau Protected Natural Area (Patagonia Argentina)

BELTRAME, MARÍA ORNELA; BELLUSCI, AGUSTÍN; ANDRADE, ANALÍA

PARASITOLOGY INTERNATIONAL

ELSEVIER IRELAND LTD

Año: 2018 vol. 67 p. 362 - 365

1383-5769

The Somuncurá Plateau is a Protected Natural Area located in the middle of the northern extra-Andean aridPatagonia. Inhabited by at least 20 small mammal species, is the place with the uppermost species richness inPatagonia. The aim of this study was to examine the parasite remains from micromammal coprolites collected inassociation with a bone sequence recovered at the east of the Somuncurá Plateau (site ?Alero Las Lechuzas?).Coprolites came from the four temporal units previously defined: unit I (4790 ± 100 yrs. 14C B.P.), unit II, unitIII (7840 ± 120 yrs. 14C B.P.) and unit IV. Each coprolite was processed, rehydrated, homogenized, processedby spontaneous sedimentation and examined using a light microscope. Coprolites and eggs were described,measured and photographed. Samples were positive for two nematode species: Helminthoxys caudatus Freitas,Lent & Almeida, 1937 (Oxyurida, Oxyuridae) and Trichuris spp. (Trichinellida: Trichuridae). This is the firstpaleoparasitological study developed for the Somuncurá Plateau Protected Area. Moreover, this is the first timethat the genus Helminthoxys is reported from ancient times worldwide. Coprolites were attributed to themountain cavy Microcavia australis (Rodentia, Caviidae).The presence of H. caudatus for the Middle Holocene ofnorthern Patagonia contributes to the study of the history of the histricomorphs and pinworms relationships.