Giardiasis in symptomatic children from Sharkia, Egypt: genetic assemblages and associated risk factors

AbstractGiardia intestinalis (G. intestinalis) is a common enteric protozoan parasite worldwide and in Egypt. Identification of true prevailingGiardia assemblages helps in identification of the sources of infection. The study ’s aim was to determine the true prevalence ofGiardia assemblages in Egyptian children from Sharkia governorate presenting with gastrointestinal symptoms and to investigate their association with molecularly detectedGiardia. A total of 617 stool specimens were collected from children presenting with gastrointestinal symptoms in Alquraeen, Sharkia governorate, Egypt for 17  months. All stool specimens were microscopically examined by wet mount smear before and after stool concentration to recover parasitic stages.Giardia copro-DNA was amplified from microscopically detected stool specimens using Copro-nPCR targeting the tpi gene forGiardia, followed by sequencing products of nPCR. The molecular prevalence ofGiardia among symptomatic children was 9.88%, 83% of which were assemblage B and 17% were assemblages A.Giardia affected both sexes and all ages and was  most prevalent in preschool children. Abdominal pain was the most common GIT symptom followed by diarrhoea. However, none of the patients’ demographic variables (sex, age, weight and height) nor clinical symptoms showed significant association with molecular detection of Giardia.Giardia was common among symptomatic children from Sharkia, Egypt, with the predominance of assemblage B, which sugges...
Source: Journal of Parasitic Diseases - Category: Parasitology Source Type: research