New helminth egg discoveries at the Cloudman archaeological site, Michigan, North America show evidence for parasites from Early Late-Woodland (AD 500/600-1000) to Historic times

Abstract

Here we report microfossil helminth analysis of soils/sediments from the Cloudman Site, Lake Huron, Michigan, encompassing the Early Late-Woodland (AD 500/600-1000) to the early Historic period. Results reveal eggs of the dog nematode Toxocara canis (a first for North America), the human nematode Ascaris lumbricoides, and the cestode Taeniidae, intestinal parasites that could have affected the health of people and their domesticated dogs. The eggs suggest that the presence of dogs at the site remained relatively stable over the c. 1000 year-span of this period. The results offer a new line of evidence for possible dog presence and domestication in North America.

Keywords

Great Lakes, indigenous, helminth eggs, Ascarididae, Taeniidae, dogs.