Korean J Parasitol.  2016 Oct;54(5):573-583. 10.3347/kjp.2016.54.5.573.

The Paleoparasitology in Brazil and Findings in Human Remains from South America: A Review

• Novo SP
• Ferreira L

• KMID: 2360521
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3347/kjp.2016.54.5.573

Abstract

The review article presents some of the history of how paleoparasitology started in Brazil, making highlight the great responsible Dr. Luiz Fernando Ferreira and Dr. Adauto Araújo, the trajectory of paleoparasitology in Brazil since 1978 and its performance in science to the present day. In sequence, it is made a presentation of parasitological findings on human remains found in archaeological sites in South America, highlighting Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and Peru, where major discoveries have occurred. Many of the parasites found in archaeological material and mentioned in this review went out of Africa with the peopling of Europe and from there they dispersed around the world, where climatic conditions allow the transmission. However, humans have acquired other parasites of animals, since humans invaded new habitats or creating new habits adopting new technologies, thus expanding its range of influence on the environment. Thus, this review article is finalized with information that explain the importance of these findings in the interaction between parasites, human host, and ambient.

Keyword

Paleoparasitology; paleoparasitology in Brazil; South America; human remains; review

MeSH Terms

Africa
Animals
Argentina
Brazil*
Chile
Ecosystem
Europe
Humans*
Parasites
Peru
South America*