First molecular data on the human roundworm Ascaris lumbricoides species complex from the Bronze and Iron Age in Hallstatt, Austria
Abstract Palaeoparasitological studies can provide valuable information on the emergence, distribution, and elimination of parasites during a particular time in the past. In the prehistoric salt mines of Hallstatt, located in the Austrian Alps, human faeces have been conserved in salt. The aim of th...
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| Format: | Article |
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Nature Portfolio
2023-07-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-38989-8 |
| _version_ | 1797769572067049472 |
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| author | Elisabeth Barsch Kerstin Kowarik Katharina Rodler Christoph Hörweg Hans Reschreiter Helmut Sattmann Julia Walochnik |
| author_facet | Elisabeth Barsch Kerstin Kowarik Katharina Rodler Christoph Hörweg Hans Reschreiter Helmut Sattmann Julia Walochnik |
| author_sort | Elisabeth Barsch |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Palaeoparasitological studies can provide valuable information on the emergence, distribution, and elimination of parasites during a particular time in the past. In the prehistoric salt mines of Hallstatt, located in the Austrian Alps, human faeces have been conserved in salt. The aim of this study was to recover ancient DNA of intestinal parasites from these coprolites. Altogether, 35 coprolites from the Hallstatt salt mines, dating back to the Bronze Age mining phase (1158–1063 BCE) and the Iron Age mining phase (750–662 BCE), respectively, were analysed by microscopy and molecular methods. In 91% of the coprolite samples, eggs of soil-transmitted helminths (STH), namely of Trichuris and/or Ascaris were detected by light microscopy. The Ascaris eggs were exceptionally well preserved. For further analysis, DNA was extracted from the palaeofaecal samples and species-specific primers targeting different genes were designed. While amplification of Trichuris DNA remained unsuccessful, sequence data of A. lumbricoides species complex were successfully obtained from 16 coprolites from three different genes, the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene (cox1), the mitochondrial cytochrome B gene (cytB) and the mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1 gene (nadh1). Importantly, these included two Ascaris sequences from a coprolite from the Bronze Age, which to the best of our knowledge are the first molecular data of this genus from this period. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T21:11:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-72b4833b68bc4975bd439323dd65bd90 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T21:11:00Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-72b4833b68bc4975bd439323dd65bd902023-07-30T11:11:29ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222023-07-011311910.1038/s41598-023-38989-8First molecular data on the human roundworm Ascaris lumbricoides species complex from the Bronze and Iron Age in Hallstatt, AustriaElisabeth Barsch0Kerstin Kowarik1Katharina Rodler2Christoph Hörweg3Hans Reschreiter4Helmut Sattmann5Julia Walochnik6Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of ViennaPrehistoric Department, Natural History Museum ViennaInstitute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Vienna3rd Zoological Department, Natural History Museum ViennaPrehistoric Department, Natural History Museum Vienna3rd Zoological Department, Natural History Museum ViennaInstitute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of ViennaAbstract Palaeoparasitological studies can provide valuable information on the emergence, distribution, and elimination of parasites during a particular time in the past. In the prehistoric salt mines of Hallstatt, located in the Austrian Alps, human faeces have been conserved in salt. The aim of this study was to recover ancient DNA of intestinal parasites from these coprolites. Altogether, 35 coprolites from the Hallstatt salt mines, dating back to the Bronze Age mining phase (1158–1063 BCE) and the Iron Age mining phase (750–662 BCE), respectively, were analysed by microscopy and molecular methods. In 91% of the coprolite samples, eggs of soil-transmitted helminths (STH), namely of Trichuris and/or Ascaris were detected by light microscopy. The Ascaris eggs were exceptionally well preserved. For further analysis, DNA was extracted from the palaeofaecal samples and species-specific primers targeting different genes were designed. While amplification of Trichuris DNA remained unsuccessful, sequence data of A. lumbricoides species complex were successfully obtained from 16 coprolites from three different genes, the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene (cox1), the mitochondrial cytochrome B gene (cytB) and the mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1 gene (nadh1). Importantly, these included two Ascaris sequences from a coprolite from the Bronze Age, which to the best of our knowledge are the first molecular data of this genus from this period.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-38989-8 |
| spellingShingle | Elisabeth Barsch Kerstin Kowarik Katharina Rodler Christoph Hörweg Hans Reschreiter Helmut Sattmann Julia Walochnik First molecular data on the human roundworm Ascaris lumbricoides species complex from the Bronze and Iron Age in Hallstatt, Austria Scientific Reports |
| title | First molecular data on the human roundworm Ascaris lumbricoides species complex from the Bronze and Iron Age in Hallstatt, Austria |
| title_full | First molecular data on the human roundworm Ascaris lumbricoides species complex from the Bronze and Iron Age in Hallstatt, Austria |
| title_fullStr | First molecular data on the human roundworm Ascaris lumbricoides species complex from the Bronze and Iron Age in Hallstatt, Austria |
| title_full_unstemmed | First molecular data on the human roundworm Ascaris lumbricoides species complex from the Bronze and Iron Age in Hallstatt, Austria |
| title_short | First molecular data on the human roundworm Ascaris lumbricoides species complex from the Bronze and Iron Age in Hallstatt, Austria |
| title_sort | first molecular data on the human roundworm ascaris lumbricoides species complex from the bronze and iron age in hallstatt austria |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-38989-8 |
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