New evidence for the antiquity of the intestinal parasiteTrichuris(whipworm) in Europe

The whipworm,Trichuris trichiuraL., is one of the most common human intestinal parasites worldwide, yet little is known of its origin and global spread. Archaeological records for this nematode have all been of Neolithic or later date, suggesting a possible association between the spread of pastoral farming and human acquisition of whipworm. This paper reports the discovery of eggs of the genusTrichurisin late Mesolithic deposits from south Wales, indicating that whipworm was present in Europe before the arrival of agriculture. This raises the possibility that human infection byTrichurisarose through contact with wild animals in parts of the landscape frequented by both human and animal groups.