The ancient Romans who guarded Hadrian’s Wall were riddled with worms and parasites

The ancient Romans who guarded Hadrian’s Wall were riddled with worms and parasites

By Claire Cameron Edited by Jeanna Bryner

Britain’s ancient Romans were riddled with intestinal parasites that were spread through human feces.

A new analysis of the sewage system at Vindolanda, a Roman fort near Hadrian’s Wall, has revealed that ancient inhabitants were infected with at least three intestinal parasites: roundworm, whipworm and whipworm. Giardia duodenalis.

Both roundworms and whipworms live in the intestine and cause a variety of conditions, including abdominal pain, nausea, fever and diarrhea. Roundworms can reach a length of 30 centimeters, while whipworms tend to be smaller. People can become infected by ingesting food or drinks contaminated with human feces containing the eggs of these worms. Giardia duodenalismeanwhile, is not a worm but a tiny organism that lives mainly inside the small intestine. It comes in two forms – cysts and trophozoites – and causes giardiasis, a disease that causes severe diarrhea and makes it more difficult for the body to absorb essential nutrients. It is also spread through human feces.

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For the analysis, published in the journal ParasitologyResearchers examined 50 sediment samples taken from the drain of a third-century latrine at the fort. About 28 percent of the samples contained whipworm or roundworm eggs, while others showed traces of Giardia duodenalis. A sample from an older structure dating back to the first century also contained the worms.

All of this suggests that the ancient Romans probably weren’t as particular about hand washing or eating as we are today. Faecal matter may also have contaminated Vindolanda Fort’s drinking water supply, making residents sick. And once the Romans were infected, there was little that could be done, Marissa Ledger, study co-author and medical microbiology resident at McMaster University in Ontario, said in a statement.

“While the Romans were aware of intestinal worms, their doctors could do little to eliminate infection by these parasites or help people with diarrhea, meaning symptoms could persist and get worse,” Ledger said.

The conditions almost certainly affected the Romans’ ability to protect Hadrian’s Wall, a vital defense structure built by the Romans in 122 CE to prevent the entry of the Picts and other tribes who lived to the north. Epidemics would have been frequent, with dozens of people sick at a time.

Ultimately, the results suggest that the life of a Roman soldier at Hadrian’s Wall was rather miserable, the researchers said. “Excavations at Vindolanda continue to find new evidence that helps us understand the incredible difficulties faced by those assigned to this northwest frontier of the Roman Empire almost 2,000 years ago,” said Andrew Birley, co-author of the study and CEO of the Vindolanda Charitable Trust.

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