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

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Authors

FLAMMER Patrik G. RYAN Hannah PRESTON Stephen G. PŘICHYSTALOVÁ Renáta WEISS Rainer PALMOWSKI Valerie BOSCHERT Sonja FELLGIEBEL Katarina JASCH-BOLEY Isabelle KAIRIES Madita-Sophie RÜMMELE Ernst RIEGER Dirk SCHMID Beate REEVES Ben NICHOLSON Rebecca LOE Louise GUY Christopher WALDRON Tony MACHÁČEK Jiří WAHL Joachim POLLARD Mark LARSON Greger SMITH Adrian L. WARREN Sylvia

Year of publication 2020
Type Article in Periodical
Magazine / Source PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
MU Faculty or unit

Faculty of Arts

Citation
Web Full text
Doi http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0008600
Keywords Middle Ages; Europe; parasite; intestinal; epidemic; hygiene
Description 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.
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