Techniques of DNA-studies on Prehispanic Ectoparasites (Pulex sp., Pulicidae, Siphonaptera) from Animal Mummies of the Chiribaya Culture, Southern Peru

Authors

Katharina Dittmar, Brigham Young UniversityFollow
U. Mammat, Research Center Borstel, Center for Medicine and Biosciences, Borstel, Germany
M. Whiting, Brigham Young University
Sonia Guillén, Centro Mallqui, Bioanthropology Foundation, Ilo, Peru
Karl J. Reinhard, University of Nebraska at LincolnFollow
T Goldmann, Research Center Borstel, Center for Medicine and Biosciences, Borstel, Germany

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

February 2003

Comments

Citation: Dittmar K, Mamat U, Whiting M, Goldmann T, Reinhard K, Guillen S (2003) Techniques of DNA-studies on prehispanic ectoparasites (Pulex sp., Pulicidae, Siphonaptera) from animal mummies of the Chiribaya Culture, Southern Peru. Memorias do Instituto do Oswaldo Cruz 98:53-58.

Abstract

During a paleoparasitological survey of several animal mummies (Cavia aperea f. porcellus and Canis familiaris) from Chiribaya Baja, an archaeological site in Southern Peru, an unexpected find was made. In the well preserved fur, large numbers of mummified fleas (Pulex simulans/irritans) that parasitized the animals during life were encountered. Due to the relative recent event of the host mummification and the outstanding preservation of the fleas, an attempt for the retrieval of DNA was made. A DNA extraction and sequencing protocol for archaeological ectoparasitic remains has been established, taking additional studies for tissue and protein preservation into account. Tissue preservation was assessed with transmission electron microscopy and the protein preservation was tested through the racemisation ratios of aspartic acid. Regions of the 28S rDNA gene were successfully amplified and sequenced. Further research perspectives are outlined.