Classification of Giardia intestinalis isolates by multiple polymerase chain reaction (multiplex)

Parasitol Res. 2008 Sep;103(4):797-800. doi: 10.1007/s00436-008-1042-0. Epub 2008 Jun 13.

Abstract

Agarose gel electrophoresis of gdh gene fragments, amplified by Multiplex, was used to classify the assemblage of 24 Giardia isolates obtained from axenic cultures, children's stools, and feces of puppies from different dog breeds. Isolates were compared with seven reference strains of Giardia intestinalis. The results showed that 22/24 isolates (91%) belonged to assemblage A and could be further subclassified as assemblage A1 (18/22, 81%) and assemblage A2 (4/22, 19%). One sample revealed a mixture of A1/A2 genotypes, and another was assemblage G, indicating mixed infections by different strains in the same host, and an association with the assemblage reported in animals. The procedure described is useful to determine the Giardia genotype that parasitizes each host to conduct epidemiological studies assessing the close association between human- and animal-infecting strains and to monitor the adaptability of animal strains to humans.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cluster Analysis
  • Dog Diseases / parasitology
  • Dogs
  • Feces / parasitology
  • Genotype
  • Giardia lamblia / classification*
  • Giardia lamblia / genetics*
  • Giardia lamblia / isolation & purification
  • Giardiasis / parasitology
  • Giardiasis / veterinary
  • Humans
  • Molecular Epidemiology
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods*
  • Protozoan Proteins / genetics*
  • Sequence Homology
  • Sugar Alcohol Dehydrogenases / genetics*

Substances

  • Protozoan Proteins
  • Sugar Alcohol Dehydrogenases
  • galactitol 2-dehydrogenase