Macracanthorhynchus hirudinaceus Eggs in Canine Coprolite from the Sasanian Era in Iran (4(th)/5(th) Century CE)

Abstract

Present paper is the second publication introducing the paleoparasitological findings from animal coprolites obtained from archeological site of Chehrabad salt mine in northwest-ern Iran. The current archeological site is located in northwest of Iran , dated to the Sas-sanian Era (4th/5th century CE).In the summer 2012 the carnivore coprolite was obtained within the layers in the mine and were thoroughly analyzed for parasites using TSP re-hydration technique. Eggs of Macracanthorhynchus hirudinaceuswere successfully retrieved from the examined coprolite and were confidently identified based on reliable references. Identifying of M.hirudinaceuseggs in paleofeces with clear appearance as demonstrated herein, is much due to appropriate preservation condition has been existed in the salt mine .The present finding could be regarded as the oldest acanthocephalan infection in Iran.

Keywords

• Acanthocephalan eggs
• Iran
• Paleoparasitology
• Sasanian Era