Molecular identification of parasites in an intestinal coprolite from a mummified religious dignitary of the Piraino Mother Church crypt, Sicily

Intestinal contents were sampled from a spontaneously enhanced mummy the Sepulcher of Priests Piraino Mother Church in Province Messina, Sicily. This adult male mummy, 1, is an unidentified religious dignitary dating late-18th to mid-19th centuries. Immunological and molecular diagnostics used test for common clinically significant parasites. A morphological diagnosis Trichuris trichiura (whipworm) was confirmed genetically. previously undetected Enterobius vermicularis (pinworm) infection also identified These data indicate that 1 individual simultaneously infected with multiple intestinal parasite species indicative poor hygiene. study emphasizes importance utilizing diagnostic techniques detect pathogens archaeological contexts.