biostudies-literatureRyan HDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsEuropean Research CouncilJohn Fell Fund, University of OxfordPossehl FoundationNatural Environment Research CouncilHS2 Ltd., Laing Murphy Joint VentureBiotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Councile0010312https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9022885biostudies-literatureUnknown16(4)Intestinal helminth parasites (worms) have afflicted humans throughout history and their eggs are readily detected in archaeological deposits including at locations where intestinal parasites are no longer considered endemic (e.g. the UK). Parasites provide valuable archaeological insights into historical health, sanitation, hygiene, dietary and culinary practices, as well as other factors. Differences in the prevalence of helminths over time may help us understand factors that affected the rate of infection of these parasites in past populations. While communal deposits often contain relatively high numbers of parasite eggs, these cannot be used to calculate prevalence rates, which are a key epidemiological measure of infection. The prevalence of intestinal helminths was investigated throPLoS neglected tropical diseasesReconstructing the history of helminth prevalence in the UK.PMC9022885BB/N023803/1BB/K004468/1ERC-2013-StG 337574-UNDEAD337574OD0221NE/K005243/1NE/H005269/1Smith ALNicholson RReeves BLoe LWaldron TGuy CKirchhelle CRyan HAllison ELarson GWalker DDoriga ILFlammer PGfalseReconstructing the history of helminth prevalence in the UK.Intestinal helminth parasites (worms) have afflicted humans throughout history and their eggs are readily detected in archaeological deposits including at locations where intestinal parasites are no longer considered endemic (e.g. the UK). Parasites provide valuable archaeological insights into historical health, sanitation, hygiene, dietary and culinary practices, as well as other factors. Differences in the prevalence of helminths over time may help us understand factors that affected the rate of infection of these parasites in past populations. While communal deposits often contain relatively high numbers of parasite eggs, these cannot be used to calculate prevalence rates, which are a key epidemiological measure of infection. The prevalence of intestinal helminths was investigated thro2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 Apr2025-04-19T20:09:48.029Z2024-12-04T00:38:17.405ZS-EPMC90228853544684310.1371/journal.pntd.0010312