Retrieving ascarid and taeniid eggs from the biological remains of a Neolithic dog from the late 9th millennium BC in Western Iran

BACKGROUND Paleoparasitology reveals the status of parasitic infections in humans and animals in ancient times based on parasitic particles found in biological remains from archaeological excavations. This line of research emerged in Iran in 2013. OBJECTIVE The identification of parasites from Neolithic times is an attractive subject that shows the oldest origins of parasitic infections in a given geographical region. From an archaeological point of view, this archaeological site is well-known for animal domestication and agriculture in ancient Iran. METHODS In this study, soil deposited on the surface and in the pores of a dog pelvic bone was carefully collected and rehydrated using trisodium phosphate solution. FINDINGS The results showed ascarid and taeniid eggs retrieved from the biological remains of a dog excavated at the East Chia Sabz archaeological site, which dates back to the Neolithic period (8100 BC). MAIN CONCLUSION The current findings clearly illustrate the natural circulation of nematode and cestode parasites among dogs at that time. These ancient helminth eggs can also be used to track the oldest parasitic infections in the Iranian plateau and contribute to the paleoparasitological documentation of the Fertile Crescent.

背景 古寄生虫学（Paleoparasitology）依托考古发掘出土的生物遗存中发现的寄生虫颗粒，揭示古代人类与动物的寄生虫感染状况。该研究方向于2013年在伊朗兴起。
研究目标 对新石器时代的寄生虫开展鉴定，是一项极具学术价值的研究主题，可阐明特定地理区域内寄生虫感染的最古老起源。从考古学视角而言，该考古遗址因古代伊朗的动物驯化与农业活动而广为人知。
研究方法 本研究细致采集了出土狗骨盆骨表面及孔隙中的沉积物，并采用磷酸三钠溶液进行复水处理。
研究结果 从东贾萨卜兹（East Chia Sabz）考古遗址出土的一只狗的生物遗存中，成功检出蛔目（ascarid）与带科绦虫（taeniid）虫卵，该遗址年代可追溯至新石器时代（公元前8100年）。
主要结论 本研究结果明确证实了当时犬类种群中线虫与绦虫寄生虫的自然循环传播。这些古老的蠕形虫卵不仅可用于追溯伊朗高原最古老的寄生虫感染记录，还能为新月沃地的古寄生虫学研究档案提供重要支撑。