New Delhi: Careful analysis of sediment from a sewer drain at the Roman fort of Vindolanda near Hadrian’s Wall in northern England has revealed infections of three intestinal parasites, roundworm, whipworm and Giardia duodenalis. This is the first evidence of Giardia duodenalis in Roman Britain. Vindolanda is located between Carlisle and Corbridge in Northumberland. Hadrian’s Wall was built in the early 2nd century CE, and stretches between the North Sea to the Irish Sea. The wall was build to defenc the province of Britannia against northern tribes, and remained garrisoned until the late 4th century. The Romans built forts along the wall manned by infantry, archers and cavalry from across the empire.
The analysed material is from a nine-metre sewer drain that carried waste from the communal latrine in the 3rd century CE bath complex, to a stream north of the site. Fifty sediment samples were collected along its length. Artefacts recovered include Roman beads, pottery and animal bones. Microscopic analysis conducted by the universities of Cambridge and Oxford was used to identify helminth eggs in 28 per cent of the samples. Roundworm and whipworm eggs appeared frequently, with one sample containing both. Biomolecular ELISA testing on that sample detected proteins from Giardia duodenalis as well, confirming the presence of the microscopic protozoan.
Chronic illnesses reduced fitness of soldiers
A sample from an earlier fort, occupied between 85 and 92 CE, taken from a defensive ditch, also contained roundworm and whipworm eggs. These parasites spread through faecal-oral contamination of food, water or hands. Roundworms reach 20 to 30 cm in length, while whipworms can grow to 5 cm, while Giardia remain microscopic. Infections commonly cause malnutrition, nausea, cramping and diarrhoea. Giardia outbreaks are often tied to contaminated water and can affect many people at once, leading to severe dehydration, weeks of illness, dramatic fatigue and weight loss.
The chronic infections is likely to have reduced the fitness of soldiers for duty. There would be limited medical treatments available, which meant that the symptoms would persist and worsen. The high prevalence of these faecal-oral parasites matches patterns at other Roman military sites, including Carnuntum in Austria, Valkenberg in the Netherlands and Bearsden in Scotland. Urban centres such as London and York showed additional parasites, including tapeworms from fish and meat. Despite communal latrines and sewer systems, the conditions at the garrison allowed for ongoing transmission. A paper describing the research has been published in Parasitology.