title: Genotyping of Giardia isolates in Scotland: a descriptive epidemiological study.
abstract: Giardiasis, caused by the intestinal protozoan parasite Giardia intestinalis (synonyms: G. lamblia, G. duodenalis), is one of the most frequent parasites to infect the Scottish population. Transmission of the infective cysts in faecal matter is commonly via food and/or water. Giardia is subdivided into assemblages, where clinical and epidemiological differences have been described between assemblages A and B. This snapshot descriptive epidemiological study examines 30 positive cases of Giardia of which 72% (n = 21) were shown to be assemblage A, 14% (n = 4) assemblage B and 10% (n = 3) mixed assemblages (A and B). There was a 2:3 female:male ratio of affected individuals with foreign travel recorded in 22 of these cases. The commonest symptom was diarrhoea which was reported in 80% of cases followed by tiredness. Five cases required hospitalization emphasizing the importance of gaining a greater understanding of how Giardia assemblages influence clinical outcomes to assist in formulating guidelines to manage potential Giardia outbreaks.
authors.affiliation: Scottish Parasite Diagnostic and Reference Laboratory,Stobhill Hospital,Glasgow, Scotland,UK.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Alexander
authors.affiliation: Scottish Parasite Diagnostic and Reference Laboratory,Stobhill Hospital,Glasgow, Scotland,UK.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology,Monklands Hospital,Airdrie, Scotland,UK.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Inverarity
authors.affiliation: Health Protection Scotland,Meridian Court,Glasgow, Scotland,UK.
authors.forename: K G J
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Pollock
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D060005:Genotyping Techniques; D005872:Giardia / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005873:Giardiasis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012606:Scotland / Q000453:epidemiology; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014195:Travel; D055815:Young Adult