Archeological evidence of parasitic infection from the 19th century company town of Fayette, Michigan

Archeological deposits from the 19th century company town of Fayette, Michi gan were analyzed for evidence of endoparasitic infection in the human popu lation residing in the town between 1867 and 1891. Three privies were assoc iated with upper-income and middle-income neighborhoods; 2 household refuse disposal areas were found in a predominately lower-income immigrant workin g class neighborhood. Sediment samples from 2 privies associated with dwell ings in the middle-income neighborhood were positive for eggs of the human whipworm Trichuris trichiura. The parasite was probably also present among residents of the lower income neighborhood, bur the shallow nature of the r efuse deposits in that locality precluded preservation of the eggs. Contemp orary epidemiologic studies of helminth infections support the belief that T. trichiura may have been a common parasite of 19th century school-age chi ldren given the natural inclination of young children to defecate indiscrim inately.