title: Detection and molecular characterisation of Giardia lamblia genotypes in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  No data are available on Giardia lamblia genotypes in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This study aimed to identify G. lamblia from DNA extracted from human stool samples to gain information on its prevalence and to perform molecular analysis on isolates collected from expatriates from different localities residing in Sharjah, UAE.
  
  
  METHODS
  In total, 111 healthy expatriates residing in Sharjah were screened for G. lamblia using nested PCR amplification of the small subunit ribosomal RNA (ssu-rRNA) gene. Positive samples were genotyped using a nested PCR amplifying the triosephosphate isomerase (tpi) gene to differentiate between the two human assemblages (A and B). A subset of the PCR products (n=23) were sequenced and their phylogenetic relationships were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 111 participants, 67 (60.4%) were identified as positive for the ssu-rRNA gene. When genotyped for the tpi gene, 18.9% (21/111) were of assemblage A, 17.1% (19/111) belonged to assemblage B and 5.4% (6/111) showed patterns compatible with mixed infections. A strong correlation between the presence of diarrhoea and assemblage B was observed (χ(2)=10.553; p=0.001). Moreover, an association was also observed between mixed infections (A+B) and diarrhoea (χ(2)=8.899; p=0.003). No correlation between age, gender and geographic origin of the infected individual was noted. Phylogenetic analysis showed three clusters for the tpi gene. No relationship between the clusters and the origin of samples was noted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study is the first to determine the infection rate and genotypic composition of Giardia in Sharjah, UAE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates aelbakri@sharjah.ac.ae.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: ElBakri
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Venda, Thohoyandou, South Africa.
authors.forename: Amidou
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Samie
authors.affiliation: HIV/AIDS and Global Health Research Programme, Department of Microbiology, University of Venda, Thohoyandou, South Africa.
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bessong
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Venda, Thohoyandou, South Africa.
authors.forename: Natasha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Potgieter
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
authors.forename: Ra'ed Abu
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Odeh
mesh_terms: D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016829:Giardia lamblia / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014305:Triose-Phosphate Isomerase; D014479:United Arab Emirates
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D014305:Triose-Phosphate Isomerase
keywords: Giardia lamblia; Small subunit ribosomal RNA gene; Triosephosphate isomerase gene; United Arab Emirates