Epidemiology of giardiasis and assemblages A and B and effects on diarrhea and growth trajectories during the first 8 years of life: Analysis of a birth cohort in a rural district in tropical Ecuador

by Tannya Sandoval-Ram írez, Victor Seco-Hidalgo, Evelyn Calderon-Espinosa, Diana Garcia-Ramon, Andrea Lopez, Manuel Calvopiña, Irene Guadalupe, Martha Chico, Rojelio Mejia, Irina Chis Ster, Philip J. Cooper BackgroundThere are limited longitudinal data on the acquisition ofGiardia lamblia infections in childhood using molecular assays to detect and type assemblages, and measure effects of infections on diarrhea risk and childhood growth. MethodsWe analysed stool samples from a surveillance sample within a birth cohort in a rural district in tropical Ecuador. The cohort was followed to 8 years of age for the presence ofG.lamblia in stools by quantitative PCR and A and B assemblages by Taqman assay or Sanger sequencing. We explored risk factors associated with infection using generalized estimating equations applied to longitudinal binary outcomes, and longitudinal panel data analysis to estimate effects of infection on diarrhea and growth trajectories. Results2,812 stool samples collected between 1 month and 8 years of age from 498 children were analyzed and showed high rates of infection: 79.7% were infected at least once with peak prevalence (53.9%) at 5 years. Assemblage B was accounted for 56.8% of genotyped infections. Risk factors for infection included male sex (P = 0.001), daycare attendance (P
Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases - Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Source Type: research