Echinococcal hydatid cysts in a Pleistocene Camel

ABSTRACT

Echinococcal infection in camels has been considered a disease of domestication. Observation of bone lesions in a fossil camel further challenges the concept of such derivation. A metapodial of fossil camel, Camelops was examined macroscopically and radiologically. For comparative purposes, the gross anatomy of recent bovine bone with similar lesions was studied. Several slightly elliptical cystic metaphyseal cortical lesions, 7 × 9 mm in size, and smooth borders were recognised in the examined fossil. The studied lesions are interpreted as hydatid cyst pockets. Differential diagnosis suggests a hydatism as the most probable aetiology, documenting the oldest case of echinococcosis.

KEYWORDS:

• Paleopathology
• echinococcus
• hydatism
• Pleistocene

Acknowledgments

Appreciation is expressed to Mary Flynt of the University of Idaho at Pocatello for facilitation of access to the collections she curates. We also thank the Editor and two anonymous reviewers for their work on our paper.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This research project is supported by the National Science Centre, Poland (www.ncn.gov.pl), grant no. 2019/32/C/NZ4/00150.