Brittany Peterson

Human Origins

A Discussion of World War I Paleoparasitology

The area of study and paper chosen was one about paleoparasitology. The title of this
paper I will be examining and discussing is called Intestinal Parasites in First World War
German Soldiers from Kilianstollen, Carspach, France and is written by Le Bailly,
Landolt, Mauchamp, and Dufour. The authors discuss how parasites have been found and
examined in World War I soldiers found in a German gallery located in France called
Kilianstollen. In 2011, 21 soldiers bodies were recovered from a gallery that was bombed
where soldiers were in hiding. Of those 21 soldiers bodies the article focuses on three of the
corpses that were examined for parasites [1].
The abdominal cavities of the corpses went through a very specific rehydration protocol
called RHM (Rehydration Homogenization Microsieving) to search for any parasitic
findings. This procedure revealed that two of the three soldiers did indeed have parasite eggs
present in their remains. Eggs of round worm, and whipworm were identified. The article
continues on about finding what they believe was a human tape worm but they could not
diagnose and pin point that it was in fact a human tape worm. To discern the true origins of
the third parasite the scientific method is used. Le Bailly et al test their hypothesis of the
potential tape worm by comparing and contrasting the shape and size of the parasite eggs
found in the remains to parasitic egg photography and parasitic egg descriptions that have
been found in previous studies. After collecting the data, it seems that the conclusion was
made that the unknown human tapeworm found was most likely a nematode parasitizing
rodent.

Le Bailly et al refer to another article that was written about how parasitic eggs were
found in German soldiers located in France during the same time period of World War I[2].
Potential reasons are posited why these parasites might be found in soldiers dating all the
way back to World War I. The authors convey how very unsurprising it is these parasites were
present, as good hygiene would conceivably be difficult to maintain on the war front. They
also point out the general lack of knowledge regarding parasites back then and how they
spread. It is postulated how rats may have facilitated the dissemination of parasites during
this time period. Contaminated food would surely have been rampant, as well as potentially
scarce, perhaps inducing soldiers to eat the rats themselves.
An intriguing portion of this study, albeit potentially inconsequential, is the lowest ranked
of the studied soldier-trio had more traces of parasites in his remains than the higher ranking
officers did. The authors indicated he may have demonstrated poorer hygiene than his
superiors. I find this interesting and bothersome. Just because someone is militarily ranked
lower doesnt mean the individuals hygiene could be considered less sound. Sampling error
would easily account for this finding. Also, the analysis of a minute number of individuals
from a single site was being discussed. There is no statistically significant data to arrive at
such a conclusion. It is also possible that random circumstances contributed to this lower
ranked soldier having more exposure to parasites.
Le Bailly et al conclude that finding these parasitic relics in the soldiers remains is
indicative of the poor living conditions of soldiers on the war front. They also rightfully
concede it isnt possible to establish if the soldiers were in fact infected with the parasites, or
simply playing the role as temporary hosts to organisms with a complex life cycle. Due to
limitations of the analytical process, discrete details of the parasitic remnants in question
could not be revealed, hence disallowing a more concrete identification of the organisms, and
by extension, their specific life cycles.

Despite the intrinsic limitations of this type of analysis, the scientists search for
meaningful empirical data was fruitful. Although all of the parasitic relics couldnt be
thoroughly discerned to the species level, the authors were confident about identifying the
human tape worm. They formed a hypothesis and then tested it through study and statistical
research. How fascinating it is that through finding skeletal remains, we are now able to at
least partially discern what kind of health the individual might have had.

References
[1] Le Bailly M., Landolt M., Mauchamp L, Dufour B. (2014) Intestinal Parasites in First World War
German Soldiers from Killanstollen, Carpspach, France. PLoS ONE 9(10).e109543.
doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0109543
[2] Le Bailly M., Landolt M., Bouchet F. (2012) First World War German Solders Intestinal Worms: an
Original Study of a Trench Latrine in France. J Parasitol 98: 1273-1275. doi:10.1645/ge-3200.1