Overview
- Researchers from Cambridge and Oxford analyzed 50 sediment samples from a nine-meter drain linked to the fort’s third-century bath complex.
- Microscopy identified roundworm or whipworm eggs in about 28% of samples, including one that contained both types.
- An ELISA biomolecular assay on that same sample detected Giardia duodenalis, the first confirmed evidence of this parasite in Roman Britain.
- The team reports likely health effects on soldiers, including diarrhoea, malnutrition and reduced fitness for duty.
- Communal latrines and a sewer system did not prevent transmission, reflecting patterns seen at other Roman military sites and contrasting with the broader parasite diversity documented in major urban centers.