On head lice and social interaction in archaic Andean coastal populations

Arriaza, Bernardo, Standen, Vivien, Reinhard, Karl, Araújo, Adauto, Heukelbach, Jörg, and Dittmar, Katharina (2013) On head lice and social interaction in archaic Andean coastal populations. International Journal of Paleopathology, 3 (4). pp. 257-268.

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Abstract

Archaic mummies from northern Chile were examined for the presence of Pediculus humanus capitis. The excellent preservation of mummies and louse nits/eggs permitted a study of the degree of head lice infestation. We studied 63 Chinchorro mummies (ca. 5000–3000 years B.P.) from the Arica-Camarones coast. An area of 2 cm × 2 cm on each mummy's head was systematically inspected for louse nits/eggs. Hairs with nits/eggs and lice were collected and analyzed using optic and scanning electronic microscopy. About 79% (50/63) of the mummies resulted positive for pediculosis, with an average of 2.1 nits/eggs/cm2 per positive individual. Microscopic analyses revealed the micromorphology of all developmental stages, including eggs/nits, nymphal instars and adults. Chinchorro people lived in small huts increasing the transmission of ectoparasites. Considering that head lice thrive in crowded conditions, their prevalence could be used as an bioindicator to assess and debate cultural behavior (e.g., degree of crowdedness and sedentism) and to study paleoepidemiology in prehistoric populations.

Item ID: 32044
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1879-9825
Keywords: Mummies; pediculosis; bioarchaeology; Atacama desert
Funders: FONDECYT
Projects and Grants: FONDECYT Grants (1100059 and 1121102)
Date Deposited: 23 Apr 2014 06:35
FoR Codes: 11 MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES > 1117 Public Health and Health Services > 111799 Public Health and Health Services not elsewhere classified @ 100%
SEO Codes: 92 HEALTH > 9204 Public Health (excl. Specific Population Health) > 920499 Public Health (excl. Specific Population Health) not elsewhere classified @ 100%
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