Clarifying Prehistoric Parasitism from a Complementary Morphological and Molecular Approach.

ABSTRACT: This paper reports an approach to the identification of prehistoric parasitic infection, which integrates traditional morphological methods with molecular methods. The approach includes the strengths of each method while mitigating the limitations. Demonstrating the efficacy of this approach, we provide a case study from a 1,400 year old desiccated fecal sample from La Cueva de los Muertos Chiquitos, archaeological site, near Rio Zape, Durango, Mexico. Traditionally prepared microscope slides were processed via microscopy and tentative ascarids were identified. Information regarding the parasites' developmental stage was recorded. DNA was then extracted directly from the slide material. From this DNA extract, a small segment of the 18S ribosomal RNA gene variant that is specific to Asca

SUBMITTER: Cleeland LM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3640563 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature