Paleoparasitological evidence of pinworm (Enterobius vermicularis) infection in a female adolescent residing in ancient Tehran (Iran) 7000 years ago

Abstract

BackgroundThe Molavi street archeological site south of Tehran accidentally provided a unique opportunity for paleoparasitological studies in Iran. A female skeleton was unearthed and evaluated to be 7000 years old. Soil samples were collected around the pelvic and sacrum bones.FindingsCareful microscopic investigation of rehydrated soil samples revealed the presence of one Enterobius vermicularis egg attached to the skeleton sacral region.ConclusionThe present finding likely represents the oldest evidence of a human pinworm infection in Asia.

Confusing a Pollen Grain with a Parasite Egg: an Appraisal of “Paleoparasitological Evidence of Pinworm (Enterobius Vermicularis) Infection in a Female Adolescent Residing in Ancient Tehran”

“…As reviewed by Bolinder and her colleagues [15], the distinct polyplicate pollen of Ephedra species varies between lineages and the arrangement of plicae and pseudosulchi can be used to trace the evolutionary origin of the genus at least to the early Cretaceous. The type found by Paknazhad and her colleagues [10] is consistent with what Bolinder and colleagues [15] described as a derived pollen type with branched pseudosulchi and fewer plicae. It is also consistent with Iran-endemic jointpine [14].…”

“…In summary, archaeological specimens are asymmetrical in lengths and cross-section, are embryonated, have a fissure, and are flattened on one side. The object discovered by Paknazhad and her colleagues does not have any of these features [10] (Fig. 1).…”

“…Recently Paknazhad and colleagues [10] published an article in Parasites and Vectors entitled "Paleoparasitological evidence of pinworm (Enterobius vermicularis) infection in a female adolescent residing in ancient Tehran (Iran) 7,000 years ago". They based their diagnosis on a single structure illustrated in their paper.…”

Confusing a Pollen Grain with a Parasite Egg: Infection or Traditional Medicine?

“…We read with great interest the paper by Camacho & Reinhard published in the December issue of the KJP about our paper "Paleoparasitological evidence of pinworm (Enterobius vermicularis) infection in a female adolescent residing in ancient Tehran" [1,2]. Camacho & Reinhard are claiming that this Tehrani woman of 7,000-year-ago was not parasitized and we want here to clarify and answer to the outlined points in their article.…”

Palaeoparasitology and palaeogenetics: review and perspectives for the study of ancient human parasites

“…The light and fragile eggs are easily transmitted by handling contaminated objects. Preserved eggs were described in archaeological remains from the Americas (Fry and Moore, 1969;Araujo et al 1985;Gonçalves et al 2003) and the Middle East (Nezamabadi et al 2013;Paknazhad et al 2016). Molecular determination based on the 5S rDNA intergenic region was performed on 27 coprolites from Chile and the USA, dated between 4110 before Christ (BC) to 900 anno Domini (AD) (Iñiguez et al 2003(Iñiguez et al , 2006.…”