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Chai JY, Seo M, Shin DH. Paleoparasitology research on ancient helminth eggs and larvae in the Republic of Korea. PARASITES, HOSTS AND DISEASES 2023; 61:345-387. [PMID: 38043533 PMCID: PMC10693964 DOI: 10.3347/phd.23085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
Paleoparasitology is a discipline that applies existing conventional and molecular techniques to study parasites found in ancient ruins. This review focuses on the history of the discovery of parasites (mostly helminth eggs and larvae) in archaeological soil samples and mummies in Korea from the Three Kingdoms Period to the Joseon Dynasty (100 BCE-1910 CE). We also briefly review important milestones in global paleoparasitology. The helminth species reported so far in Korea included Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, Strongyloides stercoralis (larva), Trichostrongylus sp. (larva), Paracapillaria philippinensis (syn. Capillaria philippinensis), Enterobius vermicularis, Fasciola hepatica, dicrocoeliids, Paragonimus westermani, Clonorchis sinensis, Metagonimus yokogawai, Pygidiopsis summa, Gymnophalloides seoi, Isthmiophora hortensis, Dibothriocephalus nihonkaiensis (syn. Diphyllobothrium nihonkaiense), and Taenia spp. tapeworms. The findings obtained by Korean paleoparasitologists/archaeologists have brought about deep insight into the status of helminthic infections in Korea's past populations. Continued paleoparasitological research is essential for further understanding of ancient parasites and parasitic diseases in Korea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jong-Yil Chai
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080,
Korea
| | - Min Seo
- Department of Parasitology, Dankook University College of Medicine, Cheonan 31116,
Korea
| | - Dong Hoon Shin
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080,
Korea
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Hong JH, Seo M, Oh CS, Chai JY, Shin DH. Metagonimus yokogawai Ancient DNA Recovered from 16th- to 17th-Century Korean Mummy Feces of the Joseon Dynasty. J Parasitol 2021; 106:802-808. [PMID: 33351947 DOI: 10.1645/20-42] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Metagonimiasis is foodborne intestinal parasitism occurring by the definitive hosts' ingestion of raw or undercooked fish, mostly commonly sweetfish. Most Metagonimus infection is caused by Metagonimus yokogawai but also rarely by Metagonimus takahashii as well as Metagonimus miyatai. Despite recent molecular work on Metagonimus spp., there are still insufficient data to reveal the genetic characteristics of ancient M. yokogawai in a wide geo-historical scope. In this study, we were successful in the analysis of M. yokogawai ancient DNA (aDNA) using coprolite samples retrieved from 16th- to 17th-century Korean mummies. In BLAST and phylogenetic analyses, M. yokogawai 28S rDNA of Korean mummies were clustered along with the 28S rDNA taxa of M. takahashii and M. miyatai in GenBank. Conversely, the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) of M. yokogawai aDNA from Korean mummies was distinctly clustered apart from M. takahashii and M. miyatai sequences. This study is the first report of its kind to identify M. yokogawai aDNA retrieved from the archaeological specimens and confirms the usefulness of COI in molecular diagnosis of M. yokogawai. Considering the rarity of reports on the genetics of genus Metagonimus spp., our study will be fundamental for the future study of M. yokogawai paleogenetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jong Ha Hong
- Institute of Korean Archaeology and Ancient History, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea.,Laboratory of Bioanthropology, Paleopathology and History of Diseases, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Min Seo
- Department of Parasitology, Dankook University College of Medicine, Cheonan, South Korea
| | - Chang Seok Oh
- Department of Mortuary Science, Eulji University, Seongnam-Si, Gyeonggi-Do, South Korea.,Institute of Forensic Science, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jong-Yil Chai
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.,Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Korea Association of Health Promotion, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Dong Hoon Shin
- Laboratory of Bioanthropology, Paleopathology and History of Diseases, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.,Institute of Forensic Science, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
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Hong JH, Seo M, Oh CS, Shin DH. Genetic Analysis of Small-Subunit Ribosomal Rna, Internal Transcribed Spacer 2, and ATP Synthase Subunit 8 of Trichuris trichiura Ancient DNA Retrieved from the 15th to 18th Century Joseon Dynasty Mummies' Coprolites from Korea. J Parasitol 2019. [DOI: 10.1645/19-31] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jong Ha Hong
- Laboratory of Bioanthropology, Paleopathology and History of Diseases, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, South Korea
| | - Min Seo
- Department of Parasitology, Dankook University College of Medicine, Cheonan 31116, South Korea
| | - Chang Seok Oh
- Laboratory of Bioanthropology, Paleopathology and History of Diseases, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, South Korea
| | - Dong Hoon Shin
- Laboratory of Bioanthropology, Paleopathology and History of Diseases, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, South Korea
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Hong JH, Oh CS, Chai JY, Seo M, Shin DH. Cytochrome C Oxidase Subunit 1, Internal Transcribed Spacer 1, Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Hydrogen Dehydrogenase Subunits 2 and 5 of Clonorchis sinensis Ancient DNA Retrieved from Joseon Dynasty Mummy Specimens. J Korean Med Sci 2019; 34:e149. [PMID: 31124326 PMCID: PMC6535405 DOI: 10.3346/jkms.2019.34.e149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2019] [Accepted: 05/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
We analyzed Clonorchis sinensis ancient DNA (aDNA) acquired from the specimens of the Joseon mummies. The target regions were cytochrome C oxidase subunit 1 (CO1), internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1), nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide hydrogen (NADH) dehydrogenase subunits 2 (NAD2) and 5 (NAD5). The sequences of C. sinensis aDNA was completely or almost identical to modern C. sinensis sequences in GenBank. We also found that ITS1, NAD2 and NAD5 could be good markers for molecular diagnosis between C. sinensis and the other trematode parasite species. The current result could improve our knowledge about genetic history of C. sinensis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jong Ha Hong
- Laboratory of Bioanthropology, Paleopathology and History of Diseases, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Chang Seok Oh
- Laboratory of Bioanthropology, Paleopathology and History of Diseases, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- Institute of Forensic Science, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jong Yil Chai
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Korean Association of Health Promotion, Seoul, Korea
| | - Min Seo
- Department of Parasitology, Dankook University College of Medicine, Cheonan, Korea.
| | - Dong Hoon Shin
- Laboratory of Bioanthropology, Paleopathology and History of Diseases, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- Institute of Forensic Science, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
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Hong JH, Oh CS, Seo M, Shin DH. Analysis of COI and ITS2 regions of DNA obtained from Paragonimus westermani eggs in ancient coprolites on Joseon dynasty mummies. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2019; 114:e180595. [PMID: 31116227 PMCID: PMC6524962 DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760180595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2018] [Accepted: 04/04/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The genetic information of ancient Paragonimus westermani, the oriental lung fluke infecting over 20 million people worldwide, has not been thoroughly investigated thus far. We analysed genetic markers (COI and ITS2) of P. westermani from coprolite specimens (n = 6) obtained from 15th to 18th century Korean mummies. Our results indicated that all P. westermani sequences were generally distinct from the other species of the genus Paragonimus. The sequences were clustered into three groups: Group I for East Asia; Group II for South and Southeast Asia; and Group III for India and Sri Lanka. In this study, we found that ancient P. westermani sequences in Korea belong to Group I, adding invaluable information to the existing knowledge of Paragonimus paleogenetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jong Ha Hong
- Seoul National University College of Medicine, Laboratory of Bioanthropology, Paleopathology and History of Diseases, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Chang Seok Oh
- Seoul National University College of Medicine, Laboratory of Bioanthropology, Paleopathology and History of Diseases, Seoul, South Korea.,Seoul National University College of Medicine, Institute of Forensic Science, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Min Seo
- Dankook University College of Medicine, Department of Parasitology, Cheonan, South Korea
| | - Dong Hoon Shin
- Seoul National University College of Medicine, Laboratory of Bioanthropology, Paleopathology and History of Diseases, Seoul, South Korea.,Seoul National University College of Medicine, Institute of Forensic Science, Seoul, South Korea
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Camacho M, Araújo A, Morrow J, Buikstra J, Reinhard K. Recovering parasites from mummies and coprolites: an epidemiological approach. Parasit Vectors 2018; 11:248. [PMID: 29661215 PMCID: PMC5902992 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-2729-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2017] [Accepted: 02/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
In the field of archaeological parasitology, researchers have long documented the distribution of parasites in archaeological time and space through the analysis of coprolites and human remains. This area of research defined the origin and migration of parasites through presence/absence studies. By the end of the 20th century, the field of pathoecology had emerged as researchers developed an interest in the ancient ecology of parasite transmission. Supporting studies were conducted to establish the relationships between parasites and humans, including cultural, subsistence, and ecological reconstructions. Parasite prevalence data were collected to infer the impact of parasitism on human health. In the last few decades, a paleoepidemiological approach has emerged with a focus on applying statistical techniques for quantification. The application of egg per gram (EPG) quantification methods provide data about parasites' prevalence in ancient populations and also identify the pathological potential that parasitism presented in different time periods and geographic places. Herein, we compare the methods used in several laboratories for reporting parasite prevalence and EPG quantification. We present newer quantification methods to explore patterns of parasite overdispersion among ancient people. These new methods will be able to produce more realistic measures of parasite infections among people of the past. These measures allow researchers to compare epidemiological patterns in both ancient and modern populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgana Camacho
- Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública Sergio Arouca/Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (ENSP/FIOCRUZ), Rua Leopoldo Bulhões, 1480, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21041-210, Brazil
| | - Adauto Araújo
- Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública Sergio Arouca/Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (ENSP/FIOCRUZ), Rua Leopoldo Bulhões, 1480, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21041-210, Brazil
| | - Johnica Morrow
- Department of Physical & Life Sciences, Chadron State College, 1000 Main Street, Chadron, NE, 69337, USA
| | - Jane Buikstra
- School of Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Karl Reinhard
- Pathoecology Laboratory, School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68583-0987, USA.
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Morrow JJ, Reinhard KJ. The Paleoepidemiology ofEnterobius vermicularis(Nemata: Oxyuridae) Among the Loma San Gabriel at La Cueva de los Muertos Chiquitos (600–800 CE), Rio Zape Valley, Durango, Mexico. COMP PARASITOL 2018. [DOI: 10.1654/1525-2647-85.1.27] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Johnica J. Morrow
- Palynology and Pathoecology Laboratory, School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 3310 Holdrege Street, Lincoln, Nebraska, 68583-0962, U.S.A. (and
| | - Karl J. Reinhard
- Palynology and Pathoecology Laboratory, School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 3310 Holdrege Street, Lincoln, Nebraska, 68583-0962, U.S.A. (and
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Shin DH, Oh CS, Hong JH, Kim Y, Lee SD, Lee E. Paleogenetic study on the 17th century Korean mummy with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0183098. [PMID: 28813480 PMCID: PMC5559090 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0183098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2017] [Accepted: 06/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
While atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is known to be common among modern people exposed to various risk factors, recent paleopathological studies have shown that it affected ancient populations much more frequently than expected. In 2010, we investigated a 17th century Korean female mummy with presumptive ASCVD signs. Although the resulting report was a rare and invaluable conjecture on the disease status of an ancient East Asian population, the diagnosis had been based only on anatomical and radiological techniques, and so could not confirm the existence of ASCVD in the mummy. In the present study, we thus performed a paleogenetic analysis to supplement the previous conventional diagnosis of ASCVD. In aDNA extracted from the same Korean mummy, we identified the risk alleles of seven different SNPs (rs5351, rs10757274, rs2383206, rs2383207, rs10757278, rs4380028 and rs1333049) that had already been revealed to be the major risk loci of ASCVD in East Asian populations. The reliability of this study could be enhanced by cross-validation using two different analyses: Sanger and SNaPshot techniques. We were able to establish that the 17th century Korean female had a strong genetic predisposition to increased risk of ASCVD. The current paleogenetic diagnosis, the first of its kind outside Europe, re-confirms its utility as an adjunct modality for confirmatory diagnosis of ancient ASCVD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong Hoon Shin
- Bioanthropology and Paleopathology Lab, Department of Anatomy, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
- Institute of Forensic Science, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Chang Seok Oh
- Bioanthropology and Paleopathology Lab, Department of Anatomy, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jong Ha Hong
- Bioanthropology and Paleopathology Lab, Department of Anatomy, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Yusu Kim
- Bioanthropology and Paleopathology Lab, Department of Anatomy, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Soong Deok Lee
- Institute of Forensic Science, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Eunju Lee
- Department of Internal Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
- * E-mail:
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Shin DH, Kim YS, Yoo DS, Kim MJ, Oh CS, Hong JH, Lee E, Chai JY, Seo M. A Case of Ectopic Paragonimiasis in a 17th Century Korean Mummy. J Parasitol 2017; 103:399-403. [PMID: 28395568 DOI: 10.1645/16-63] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Archaeoparasitological studies on fossilized feces obtained from Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910 CE) mummies have provided invaluable data on the patterns of parasitic infection in pre-modern Korean societies. In our recent radiological investigation of a 17th century Joseon mummy discovered in Cheongdo (South Korea), we located a liver mass just below the diaphragm. Anatomical dissection confirmed the presence of a mass of unknown etiology. A subsequent parasitological examination of a sample of the mass revealed a large number of ancient Paragonimus sp. eggs, making the current report the first archaeoparasitological case of liver abscess caused by ectopic paragonimiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- D H Shin
- Bioanthropology and Paleopathology Lab, Institute of Forensic Science, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 103 Daehak-ro (Yongon-dong), Jongno-gu, Seoul 03080, South Korea. Correspondence should be sent to M. Seo at:
| | - Y-S Kim
- Bioanthropology and Paleopathology Lab, Institute of Forensic Science, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 103 Daehak-ro (Yongon-dong), Jongno-gu, Seoul 03080, South Korea. Correspondence should be sent to M. Seo at:
| | - D S Yoo
- Bioanthropology and Paleopathology Lab, Institute of Forensic Science, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 103 Daehak-ro (Yongon-dong), Jongno-gu, Seoul 03080, South Korea. Correspondence should be sent to M. Seo at:
| | - M J Kim
- Bioanthropology and Paleopathology Lab, Institute of Forensic Science, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 103 Daehak-ro (Yongon-dong), Jongno-gu, Seoul 03080, South Korea. Correspondence should be sent to M. Seo at:
| | - C S Oh
- Bioanthropology and Paleopathology Lab, Institute of Forensic Science, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 103 Daehak-ro (Yongon-dong), Jongno-gu, Seoul 03080, South Korea. Correspondence should be sent to M. Seo at:
| | - J H Hong
- Bioanthropology and Paleopathology Lab, Institute of Forensic Science, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 103 Daehak-ro (Yongon-dong), Jongno-gu, Seoul 03080, South Korea. Correspondence should be sent to M. Seo at:
| | - E Lee
- Bioanthropology and Paleopathology Lab, Institute of Forensic Science, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 103 Daehak-ro (Yongon-dong), Jongno-gu, Seoul 03080, South Korea. Correspondence should be sent to M. Seo at:
| | - J Y Chai
- Bioanthropology and Paleopathology Lab, Institute of Forensic Science, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 103 Daehak-ro (Yongon-dong), Jongno-gu, Seoul 03080, South Korea. Correspondence should be sent to M. Seo at:
| | - M Seo
- Bioanthropology and Paleopathology Lab, Institute of Forensic Science, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 103 Daehak-ro (Yongon-dong), Jongno-gu, Seoul 03080, South Korea. Correspondence should be sent to M. Seo at:
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SEO MIN, OH CHANGSEOK, HONG JONGHA, CHAI JONGYIL, CHA SOONCHUL, BANG YURI, CHA INGUK, WI YANGGUN, PARK JUNGMIN, SHIN DONGHOON. Estimation of parasite infection prevalence of Joseon people by paleoparasitological data updates from the ancient feces of pre-modern Korean mummies. ANTHROPOL SCI 2017. [DOI: 10.1537/ase.160920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- MIN SEO
- Department of Parasitology, Dankook University College of Medicine, Cheonan
| | - CHANG SEOK OH
- Institute of Forensic Science, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul
| | - JONG HA HONG
- Institute of Forensic Science, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul
| | - JONG-YIL CHAI
- Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul
| | | | - YURI BANG
- Hanbaek Research Institute for Cultural Heritage, Seoul
| | - IN GUK CHA
- Honam Cultural Property Research Center, Damyang
| | - YANG GUN WI
- Gyeong-Sang Cultural Heritage Research Center, Jinju
| | - JUNG MIN PARK
- Hanul Research Institute of Cultural Heritage, Suwon
| | - DONG HOON SHIN
- Institute of Forensic Science, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul
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Oh CS, Seo M, Hong JH, Chai JY, Oh SW, Park JB, Shin DH. Ancient mitochondrial DNA analyses of ascaris eggs discovered in coprolites from joseon tomb. THE KOREAN JOURNAL OF PARASITOLOGY 2015; 53:237-42. [PMID: 25925186 PMCID: PMC4416368 DOI: 10.3347/kjp.2015.53.2.237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2014] [Revised: 02/25/2015] [Accepted: 03/03/2015] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Analysis of ancient DNA (aDNA) extracted from Ascaris is very important for understanding the phylogenetic lineage of the parasite species. When aDNAs obtained from a Joseon tomb (SN2-19-1) coprolite in which Ascaris eggs were identified were amplified with primers for cytochrome b (cyt b) and 18S small subunit ribosomal RNA (18S rRNA) gene, the outcome exhibited Ascaris specific amplicon bands. By cloning, sequencing, and analysis of the amplified DNA, we obtained information valuable for comprehending genetic lineage of Ascaris prevalent among pre-modern Joseon peoples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang Seok Oh
- Bioanthropology and Paleopathology Lab, Institute of Forensic Science, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 110-799, Korea
| | - Min Seo
- Department of Parasitology and Research Center for Mummy, Dankook University, Cheonan 330-715, Korea
| | - Jong Ha Hong
- Bioanthropology and Paleopathology Lab, Institute of Forensic Science, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 110-799, Korea
| | - Jong-Yil Chai
- Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 110-799, Korea
| | - Seung Whan Oh
- Hangang Institute of Cultural Heritage, Seoul 143-904, Korea
| | | | - Dong Hoon Shin
- Bioanthropology and Paleopathology Lab, Institute of Forensic Science, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 110-799, Korea
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Abstract
Parasite finds in ancient material launched a new field of science: palaeoparasitology. Ever since the pioneering studies, parasites were identified in archaeological and palaeontological remains, some preserved for millions of years by fossilization. However, the palaeoparasitological record consists mainly of parasites found specifically in human archaeological material, preserved in ancient occupation sites, from prehistory until closer to 2015. The results include some helminth intestinal parasites still commonly found in 2015, such as Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and hookworms, besides others such as Amoebidae and Giardia intestinalis, as well as viruses, bacteria, fungi and arthropods. These parasites as a whole provide important data on health, diet, climate and living conditions among ancient populations. This chapter describes the principal findings and their importance for knowledge on the origin and dispersal of infectious diseases.
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