Relationship of Nematodes and Humans in Prehistoric Times: A Paleoparasitological Perspective

Abstract

In analogy to microorganisms, from free-living to the parasites, phylum of nematods take up a great range in ecological niches on the earth. As an evolutionary result of interactions between humans and nematodes, some species have evolved a parasitic life cycle. It is estimated that major infectious conditions of early hominids and prehistorical humans was parasitic infections. Adaptations and both human and parasite immune system composed an evolutionary interaction that called “co-evolution”. As a multidisciplinary science paleoparasitology is also considered a branch of paleopathology. Although investigate human remnants such as bones are extensively useful in paleopathology, they are not suitable to track parasites. Hence, paleoparasitology rather investigate remnants such as coprolites and intestinal contents. Paleoparasitological findings have importance to understand hygiene conditions, health issues and predictions on dietary consumption of human ancestors. In contrast to ancient and modern civilizations, major health problem of prehistoric humans were parasitic infections caused by helminths. Those infections introduced to humans as they migrated to new regions or they were existed already which called “heirloom parasites”. Evidences of parasitic helminths in humans have widely recorded around the earth. Aims of present review are elucidate human-nematode inter-actions during prehistoric times and overview that co-evolution.

Keywords

• nematodes
• prehistoria
• co-evolution
• heirloom parasite
• human evolution
• paleoparasitology

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