title: Genetic characterization of Giardia duodenalis by sequence analysis in humans and animals in Pemba Island, Tanzania.
abstract: Giardia duodenalis represents one of the most widespread human enteric parasites: about 200million people in Asia, Africa and Latin America are infected. Giardia exerts a deep impact on public health because of high prevalence and possible effects on growth and cognitive functions in infected children. The major aim of this study was to detect and genetically characterize G. duodenalis in both human and animal fecal samples collected in Pemba Island, in the archipelago of Zanzibar (Tanzania), in order to deepen the knowledge of genotypes of Giardia in this area. Between October 2009 and October 2010, we collected 45 human fecal samples from children from 2 primary schools and 60 animal fecal samples: 19 from zebus (Bos primigenius indicus) and 41 from goats (Capra hircus). Detection and genetic identification were performed by multilocus analysis of ssu-rDNA and gdh genes. In humans we found a higher prevalence of assemblage B (sub-assemblage BIV), in goats of assemblage E and in zebus of assemblage A. Our study represents an important contribution to the epidemiological knowledge of G. duodenalis in this area of Tanzania.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Virology, University of Cologne, Fürst-Pückler-Str. 56, 50935 Cologne, Germany; Department of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy. Electronic address: veronica.di-cristanziano@uk-koeln.de.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Di Cristanziano
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy; Parasitology Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Piazza Sant´Onofrio 4, 00165 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Santoro
authors.affiliation: Ivo de Carneri Foundation, Viale Monza 44, 20127 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Parisi
authors.affiliation: Ivo de Carneri Foundation, Viale Monza 44, 20127 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Albonico
authors.affiliation: Public Health Laboratory (Pemba)-Ivo de Carneri, P.O. Box, TZ-122 Wawi, Chake Chake, Tanzania.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Shaali
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Di Cave
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Berrilli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D016829:Giardia lamblia / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005873:Giardiasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005969:Glutamate Dehydrogenase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D013636:Tanzania / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D005969:Glutamate Dehydrogenase
keywords: Genetic characterization; Giardia duodenalis; Tanzania; gdh; ssu-rDNA