Reptile and rodent parasites in an archaeological context: the case of Epullán Chica (northwestern Patagonia, Argentina)

MARÍA ORNELA BELTRAME; FERNANDO J. FERNÁNDEZ; NORMA HAYDEÉ SARDELLA

QUATERNARY SCIENCE REVIEWS

PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2015 vol. 119 p. 1 - 10

0277-3791

Paleoparasitology is the study of parasite remains from archaeological and paleontological sites. Raptor pellets can be used as source for paleoparasitological information in archaeological sites. However, this zooarchaeological material has been scarcely studied. Epullán Chica (ECh) is an archaeological cave site in northwestern Patagonia. This cave yielded remains from more than 2,000 years before present. During this temporal segment, the cave was used by groups of hunter-gatherers, as well as armadillos and owls. The aim of this paper was to study the parasite remains found in owl pellets from the archaeological site ECh, and to discuss the paleoparasitological findings in an archaeological context. Twenty two raptor pellets were examined for parasites. The pellets were whole processed by rehydration in a 0.5% water solution of trisodium phosphate, followed by homogenization, filtered and processed by spontaneous sedimentation. At least 10 slides of each sample were made with the aid of a drop of sediment mixed with one drop of glycerin, and examined at 10X and 40X using a light microscopy. Macroscopic observations of examined pellets showed a mixture of inclusions such as hairs, numerous bones (specially cranial and postcranial bones) and teeth of micromammals and reptiles, chitin of arthropods (e.g., ants, scorpions). In several samples it was possible to identify the micromammal remains. All of them were identified as belonged to order Rodentia. Four individuals were identified as Reithrodon auritus (bunny rat) (Cricetidae, Sigmodontinae), two as Eligmodontia sp. (Cricetidae, Sigmodontinae), two as Microcavia australis (Hystricomorpha, Caviidae), and five as Ctenomys sp. (Hystricomorpha, Ctenomyidae). Two individuals were recorded as unidentified Caviidae and Sigmodontidae, respectively. Two samples also contained scales, teeth and bones assigned to Iguania (Squamata), commonly known as small lizards. Eight out of 22 bird pellets examined were positive for parasites from reptiles and rodents. Representatives of 13 parasite taxa were recorded; nine of this parasitic species were reported for the first time from ancient samples from Patagonia. Helminth eggs of nematodes, one cestode, and one acanthocephalan, pentastomid eggs, and coccidian oocysts were found. This is the first time that pellets give evidences of ancient reptile parasites from archaeological contexts. It is noteworthy that Late Holocene hunter-gatherers of the upper Limay River basin, could have been exposed to some of these zoonotic parasites.