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New helminth egg discoveries at the Cloudman archaeological site, Michigan, North America show evidence for parasites from Early Late Woodland (AD 500/600–1000) to Historic times
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 18 December 2025
Abstract
Here we report microfossil helminth analysis of soils/sediments from the Cloudman site, Lake Huron, Michigan, encompassing the Early Late Woodland (AD 500/600–1000) to the early Historic period. Results reveal eggs of the dog nematode Toxocara canis (a first for North America), the human nematode Ascaris lumbricoides, and a species of taeniid cestode, intestinal parasites that could have affected the health of people and their domesticated dogs. The eggs suggest that the presence of dogs at the site remained relatively stable over the c. 1000-year span of this period. The results offer a new line of evidence for possible dog presence and domestication in North America.
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