Korean J Parasitol.  2016 Oct;54(5):625-629. 10.3347/kjp.2016.54.5.625.

A First Case of Human Trichuriasis from a Roman Lead Coffin in France

• Dufour B
• Segard M
• Le Bailly

• KMID: 2360526
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3347/kjp.2016.54.5.625

Abstract

A paleoparasitological study was carried out on 2 lead coffins recovered from the Roman site of Jaunay-Clan (near Poitiers, France). For the first time, this particular type of burial gave positive parasitological results, and eggs of the whipworm Trichuris trichiura were identified in 1 individual. In the present case, thanatomorphose associated with funerary practices may explain the scarcity of the recovered eggs. However, human whipworm has now been observed in 9 individuals dated to the Roman period. The very high frequency of Trichuris sp. eggs in Roman archaeological sites (up to 80%) suggests that fecal peril, hygiene, and waste management were problematic during this period. Finally, due to the fact that very few analyses have been conducted on human bodies dated to the Roman period, more analyses must be performed in the future to provide further information about diseases in the Roman world.

Keyword

Trichuris trichiura; trichuriasis; paleoparaasitology; Roman period; lead coffin

MeSH Terms

Burial
Eggs
France*
Human Body
Humans*
Hygiene
Ovum
Roman World
Trichuriasis*
Trichuris
Waste Management