Epidemiological insights from a large-scale investigation of intestinal helminths in Medieval Europe

Kód výsledku v IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F00216224%3A14210%2F20%3A00114298" target="_blank" >RIV/00216224:14210/20:00114298 - isvavai.cz</a>

Výsledek na webu

<a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0008600" target="_blank" >https://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0008600</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0008600" target="_blank" >10.1371/journal.pntd.0008600</a>

Jazyk výsledku

angličtina

Název v původním jazyce

Epidemiological insights from a large-scale investigation of intestinal helminths in Medieval Europe

Popis výsledku v původním jazyce

Parasitic helminths (worms) are important infections of humans in many less well developed countries, particularly those in tropical and sub-tropical regions. These infections are not a major problem in modern Europe but parasite eggs are readily detected in archaeological contexts. To estimate a key epidemiological parameter, the prevalence of infection, we examined large numbers of single graves from Medieval Europe and found that the rates of infection with two soil transmitted nematodes (Ascaris spp. and Trichuris trichiura) were as prevalent as in many modern endemic areas. We also identified two cestodes that humans acquire from eating undercooked red meat (Taenia spp.) or freshwater fish (Diphyllobothrium latum). Using prevalence and ancient DNA data we explored helminth epidemiology in Medieval European populations and factors that may influence infection including age, sex, sanitation, hygiene and culinary practices. The Medieval prevalence rates provide a historical baseline for Europe and an interesting comparator for modern epidemiological studies in other parts of the world. It is noteworthy that helminths were endemic in historical Europe but were eradicated prior to the development of modern drugs. In this sense studying changes in helminth prevalence in historical Europe may provide insights into control efforts in modern endemic regions.

Název v anglickém jazyce

Epidemiological insights from a large-scale investigation of intestinal helminths in Medieval Europe

Popis výsledku anglicky

Parasitic helminths (worms) are important infections of humans in many less well developed countries, particularly those in tropical and sub-tropical regions. These infections are not a major problem in modern Europe but parasite eggs are readily detected in archaeological contexts. To estimate a key epidemiological parameter, the prevalence of infection, we examined large numbers of single graves from Medieval Europe and found that the rates of infection with two soil transmitted nematodes (Ascaris spp. and Trichuris trichiura) were as prevalent as in many modern endemic areas. We also identified two cestodes that humans acquire from eating undercooked red meat (Taenia spp.) or freshwater fish (Diphyllobothrium latum). Using prevalence and ancient DNA data we explored helminth epidemiology in Medieval European populations and factors that may influence infection including age, sex, sanitation, hygiene and culinary practices. The Medieval prevalence rates provide a historical baseline for Europe and an interesting comparator for modern epidemiological studies in other parts of the world. It is noteworthy that helminths were endemic in historical Europe but were eradicated prior to the development of modern drugs. In this sense studying changes in helminth prevalence in historical Europe may provide insights into control efforts in modern endemic regions.

Druh

J_imp - Článek v periodiku v databázi Web of Science

CEP obor

—

OECD FORD obor

60102 - Archaeology

Projekt

<a href="/cs/project/GA18-08646S" target="_blank" >GA18-08646S: Vznik raně středověké šlechty ve středovýchodní Evropě. Archeologicko-historický pohled</a><br>

Návaznosti

P - Projekt vyzkumu a vyvoje financovany z verejnych zdroju (s odkazem do CEP)

Rok uplatnění

2020

Kód důvěrnosti údajů

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Název periodika

PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases

ISSN

1935-2735

e-ISSN

—

Svazek periodika

14

Číslo periodika v rámci svazku

8

Stát vydavatele periodika

US - Spojené státy americké

Počet stran výsledku

20

Strana od-do

1-20

Kód UT WoS článku

000566949500002

EID výsledku v databázi Scopus

2-s2.0-85090002655