Fox parasites in pre-Columbian times: Evidence from the past to understand the current helminth assemblages.

This work aims to increase the information on the entero-parasitism in Holocene carnivores, by examining coprolites found in Patagonia. Molecular analysis was conducted following the Authenticity Criteria to Determine Ancient DNA sequences. The nucleotide sequences showed 99% of identity with the Control Region sequences of Lycalopex culpaeus (culpeo fox). Coprolites were positive for gastrointestinal parasites. The presence of Alaria sp. and Clonorchis sp. represents the first record for pre-Columbian America. The parasitological findings suggest the importance of these carnivores for the dissemination of their own parasites and those to their prey in rockshelters, areas with high re-use of space.

Apex Predators, Rockshelters, and Zoonoses in the Patagonian Holocene.

Carnivorous mammals are a trophic guild with an important role in the dissemination of parasite infective stages (larvae, eggs, cysts, and oocysts). In the present study, new samples of coprolites attributed to carnivorous mammals, obtained from 2 archaeological caves, were analyzed for the presence of parasites with the aim to increase the knowledge about parasites in rockshelters that could have spread to humans and other mammals. To this purpose, fragments of 3 coprolites from Cerro Casa de Piedra, cave 5 and cave 7, were examined. Coprolites were rehydrated in aqueous trisodium phosphate and processed by spontaneous sedimentation. High parasite richness was observed and new parasite species for archaeological contexts were found. The parasitological findings in Puma concolor coprolites associated with caves suggest the importance of these carnivores in the dissemination of parasites in areas with high re-use of space and steady conditions of temperature, humidity, and radiation.

DNA extraction and a cost-effective detection method for Echinococcus granulosus protoscoleces.

Most methods of DNA purification from protoscoleces of Echinococcus granulosus involve the use of expensive kits and may also require a second step after extraction for an effective purification. The present work describes an optimized cost-effective method that is fast and simple. This method is based on a chemical lysis with proteinase K with a subsequent one-step PCR detection. In this study we used already available primers and newly designed primers to amplify two fragments of different size corresponding to the mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase subunit 1 gene. By one-step PCR, both fragments were successfully amplified from even a single protoscolex. This result demonstrates that this method of extraction is efficient even with small amounts of sample and that PCR is highly sensitive. The major advantage of this lysis-PCR method is that it avoids a second step of purification resulting in a simpler and more economical method. Our research will serve as a base for future studies on E. granulosus genotyping, mainly with wild mammals with a low number of cysts.