Parasites and rodents in the Patagonian Holocene: an approach from Paleoparasitology

BELTRAME, MARÍA ORNELA; TIETZE, ELEONOR; CAÑAL VICTORIA; BELLUSCI, AGUSTÍN; SARDELLA, NORMA HAYDEÉ

Arica

Congreso; Paleopathology Meeting in South America; 2017

Micromammal remains are generally abundantin archaeological and paleontological sites in Patagonia. Sequences of smallmammals have been the focus of several studies during the last decade in the area,centered on taphonomic, paleoenvironmental and biogeographic features of theseassemblages. In the last years, these remains began to be used inpaleoparasitological studies. Palaeoparasitology is the study of parasiteremains from archaeological and palaeontological sites, focused on theknowledge of parasite-induced illness of humans in the past and on thepalaeoecological 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 ashosts in parasitic life-cycles has been fully recognized. Also, their role asreservoirs of zoonoses has long been known and represents one of the mostimportant sources of zoonoses for mammals. The aim of the presentstudy is to synthesize the paleoparasitological findings of rodent parasitesfound at present from diverse sites from Patagonia. Samples studied werecoprolites of micromammals and owl regurgited belong to differentarchaeological and paleontological sites along the Patagonia named ?Cerro Casade Piedra?, ?Cueva Huenul 1?, ?Los Altares Profile?, ?Epullán Chica?, ?AleroLas Lechuzas?, ?Alero Mazquiarán? and ?Alero destacamento Guardaparque?. Thesesites were dated between the Pleistocene-Holocene Transition to Late Holocene. The presence of rodent parasites inancient times can provide useful and valuable information, as rodentpaleoparasitological data can be used from diverse points of view.Anthropologists, biologists, archaeologists, and paleontologists can use thisdata to reconstruct ancient events based on the parasite life cycles and on thebiological requirements to maintain the transmission from host to host.