A family cluster of giardiasis with variable treatment responses: refractory giardiasis in a family after a trip to India.
Persistence of giardiasis after some of the recommended drugs is occurring with increasing frequency. We describe the follow-up of four members of a family with giardiasis through microscopic observation, immunochromatography and PCRs of tpi and β-giardin genes. Three patients did not respond to tinidazole but they were cured after quinacrine. However, PCR became negative at 2 months after negativization of stools in two patients and after 1 year in one patient. In all cases Giardia assemblage B was characterized with high homology between all isolates. Further studies are needed to determine the value of PCR in the diagnosis of Giardia infections.
Barcelona Centre for International Health Research (CRESIB Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona), Barcelona, Spain.
A
A
Requena-Méndez
P
P
Goñi
S
S
Lóbez
I
I
Oliveira
E
E
Aldasoro
M-E
ME
Valls
A
A
Clavel
J
J
Gascón
J
J
Muñoz
D000293:Adolescent; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002846:Chromatography, Affinity; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D005872:Giardia / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005873:Giardiasis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D008853:Microscopy; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011796:Quinacrine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D014011:Tinidazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014195:Travel; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D014011:Tinidazole; D011796:Quinacrine
Giardia; nitroimidazole; polymerase chain reaction; quinacrine; refractory giardiasis