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Intestinal parasites from the 2nd-5th century AD latrine in the Roman baths at Sagalassos (Turkey).

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

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Authors

Williams, F 
Arnold-Foster, T 
Yeh, HY 
Ledger, ML 
Baeten, J 

Abstract

The aim of this research was to determine the species of intestinal parasite present in a Roman Imperial period population in Asia Minor, and to use this information to improve our understanding of health in the eastern Mediterranean region in Roman times. We analyzed five samples from the latrines of the Roman bath complex at Sagalassos, Turkey. Fecal biomarker analysis using 5β-stanols has indicated the feces were of human origin. The eggs of roundworm (Ascaris) were identified in all five samples using microscopy, and the cysts of the protozoan Giardia duodenalis (which causes dysentery) were identified multiple times in one sample using ELISA. The positive G. duodenalis result at Sagalassos is particularly important as it represents the earliest reliable evidence for this parasite in the Old World (i.e. outside the Americas). As both these species of parasite are spread through the contamination of food and water by fecal material, their presence implies that Roman sanitation technologies such as latrines and public baths did not break the cycle of reinfection in this population. We then discuss the evidence for roundworm in the writings of the Roman physician Galen, who came from Pergamon, a town in the same region as Sagalassos.

Description

Keywords

Ascaris, dysentery, Galen of Pergamon, Giardia duodenalis, palaeoparasitology, roundworm

Journal Title

International Journal of Paleopathology

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

19

Publisher

Elsevier
Sponsorship
This research was supported by the Belgian Programme on Interuniversity Poles of Attraction, the Research Fund of the University of Leuven and the Research Foundation Flanders.