Title of article :
Herbivores Coprolites from Chehrabad Salt Mine of Zanjan, Iran (Sassanid Era, 224-651 AD) Reveals Eggs of Strongylidae and Anoplocephalidae Helminths
Author/Authors :
MEIGOUNI, Masoumeh Department of Parasitology and Mycology - School of Medicine - Zanjan University of Medical Sciences , MAKKI, Mahsasadat Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology - School of Public Health - Tehran University of Medical Sciences , HANILOO, Ali Department of Parasitology and Mycology - School of Medicine - Zanjan University of Medical Sciences , ASKARI, Zeynab Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology - School of Public Health - Tehran University of Medical Sciences , MOBEDI, Iraj Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology - School of Public Health - Tehran University of Medical Sciences , NADDAF, Saied Reza Department of Parasitology - Pasteur Institute of Iran , BOENKE, Nicole Ruhr Universität Bochum - Institut für Archäologische Wissenschaften - Germany , STOLLNER, Thomas Ruhr Universität Bochum - Institut für Archäologische Wissenschaften - Germany , AALI, Abolfazl Archaeological Museum of Zanjan , HEIDARI, Zahra Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology - School of Medicine - Ardabil University of Medical Sciences , MOWLAVI, Gholamreza Department of Parasitology and Mycology - School of Medicine - Zanjan University of Medical Sciences
Abstract :
Background: The ancient Chehrabad Salt mine, a well-known archaeological site in Iran, has recently received increasing interest from Iranian and international archeologists. Also, the biological remains from this site have provided valuable sources for studying the patho-genic agents of ancient times. This study aimed to identify the parasitic helminth eggs pre-served in the herbivores coprolites.
Methods: From 2011 to 2015, we received three coprolites belonging to herbivorous ani-mals recovered during excavations in Chehrabad Salt mine of Zanjan, Iran. The coprolites were dated back to the Sassanid era (224-651 AD) by using radiocarbon accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) and archeological stratigraphy methods. Following rehydration of the specimens in a 0.5% trisodium phosphate solution, the suspensions were mounted in glyc-erin jelly on glass slides and examined by a light microscope with 100x and 400x magnifica-tions.
Results: Two coprolites belonged to donkeys and one to an unknown herbivore species. The recovered eggs belonged to members of two helminths families, Strongylidae, and Anoplocephalidae. Also, within the two coprolites, some mites, presumably of the order Oribatida, were observed.
Conclusion: The presence of two different nematodes in the equids coprolites provide clues of the burden of helminths infection on working animal at the Sassanid time and demonstrates the appropriate preservation condition of biological remains in the ancient salt mine of Chehrabad as well.
Keywords :
Paleoparasitology , Herbivores , Strongyle , Anoplocephalan , Iran
Journal title :
Astroparticle Physics
