New finding of Giardia intestinalis (Eukaryote, Metamonad) in Old World archaeological site using immunofluorescence and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.

Matthieu Le Bailly (1, 2, 3) , Marcelo L.C. Gonçalves (4, 5) , Stéphanie Harter-Lailheugue (1, 2) , Frédéric Prodéo (6) , Adauto Araujo (5) , Françoise Bouchet (1, 2)

1 URCA - Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne
2 AHS - Archéozoologie, histoire des sociétés et des peuplements animaux
3 MNHN - Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle
4 UNIFOR - Universidade de Fortaleza Endereço
5 ENSP - Escola Nacional de Saude Publica Sergio Arouca / Sergio Arouca National School of Public Health [Rio de Janeiro]
6 Inrap - Institut national de recherches archéologiques préventives

In this study, nine organic sediment samples from a medieval archaeological site at Pineuilh, France, were examined for Giardia intestinalis using two commercially available immunological kits [enzyme-linked immuno sorbent and immunofluorescence (IFA) assays]. Both techniques detected G. intestinalis in one sample, dated to 1,000 Anno Domini. This is the first time IFA was successfully used to detect protozoa in Old World archaeological samples. Such immunological techniques offer important perspectives concerning ancient protozoa detection and identification.

Mots clés: paleoparasitology; ELISA; IFA; Giardia intestinalis

Domaines: Parasitologie

Matthieu Le Bailly, Marcelo L.C. Gonçalves, Stéphanie Harter-Lailheugue, Frédéric Prodéo, Adauto Araujo, et al.. New finding of Giardia intestinalis (Eukaryote, Metamonad) in Old World archaeological site using immunofluorescence and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.. Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, 2008, 103 (3), pp.298-300. ⟨10.1590/s0074-02762008005000018⟩. ⟨hal-00451147⟩