A Tick From a Prehistoric Arizona Coprolite (Galley Proofs)

Authors

• Keith L. Johnson, Department of Anthropology, California State University, Chico
• Karl J. Reinhard, University of Nebraska at LincolnFollow
• Luciana Sianto, Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública/Fundação Oswaldo Cruz
• Adauto Araújo, Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública/Fundacão Oswaldo CruzFollow
• Scott Lyell Gardner, School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska at LincolnFollow
• John J. Janovy Jr., University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

1-15-2008

Comments

Citation: Johnson KL, Reinhard KJ, Sianto L, Araújo A, Gardner SL, Janovy Jr. J (2008) A tick from a prehistoric Arizona coprolite. Journal of Parasitology 94: 296-298. Galley proofs. Used by permission.

Abstract

Ticks have never been reported in archaeological analyses. Here, we present the discovery of a tick from a coprolite excavated from Antelope Cave in extreme northwest Arizona. Dietary analysis indicates that the coprolite has a human origin. This archaeological occupation is associated with the Ancestral Pueblo culture (Anasazi). This discovery supports previous hypotheses that ticks were a potential source of disease and that ectoparasites were eaten by ancient people.