title: Multilocus genotyping of potentially zoonotic Giardia duodenalis in pet chinchillas (Chinchilla lanigera) in China.
abstract: Giardia duodenalis is a common protozoan that colonizes and reproduces in the small intestine, causing giardiasis. This parasite infects a wide range of vertebrate hosts, including humans, domestic animals and wildlife. It has been suggested that chinchillas (Chinchilla lanigera) kept as domestic pets are potential reservoirs for the zoonotic transmission of G. duodenalis. In this study, 140 chinchilla samples from four cities in China were examined to determine the prevalence of G. duodenalis. Thirty-eight (27.1%) chinchillas were found to be positive for G. duodenalis. The prevalence of infection was analyzed in relation to collection site, age and sex. Molecular characterization was also carried out on the 38 chinchilla samples to determine common genotypes. G. duodenalis assemblages A and B were identified in the chinchilla samples by analysis of the small subunit ribosomal RNA (ssur RNA) gene. Genotyping at the subtype level using multiple genes (glutamate dehydrogenase (gdh), triose phosphate isomerase (tpi) and β-giardin (bg) genes) determined that the majority of assemblage A isolate sequences were identical to subtype AI. Assemblage B isolates showed variability among the nucleotide sequences belonging to subtype BIV. This is the first report of G. duodenalis in chinchillas from China. As subtype AI and BIV are associated with human infection, G. duodenalis in chinchillas should be regarded as zoonotic.
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, PR China; International Joint Research Laboratory for Zoonotic Diseases of Henan, Zhengzhou 450002, PR China.
authors.forename: Meng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, PR China; International Joint Research Laboratory for Zoonotic Diseases of Henan, Zhengzhou 450002, PR China.
authors.forename: Fuchang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, PR China; International Joint Research Laboratory for Zoonotic Diseases of Henan, Zhengzhou 450002, PR China.
authors.forename: Shouyi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Henan Vocational College of Agriculture, Zhongmu 451450, Henan Province, PR China.
authors.forename: Haiyan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, PR China; International Joint Research Laboratory for Zoonotic Diseases of Henan, Zhengzhou 450002, PR China.
authors.forename: Nannan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, PR China; International Joint Research Laboratory for Zoonotic Diseases of Henan, Zhengzhou 450002, PR China.
authors.forename: Jianying
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, PR China; International Joint Research Laboratory for Zoonotic Diseases of Henan, Zhengzhou 450002, PR China. Electronic address: zhanglx8999@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Longxian
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D002682:Chinchilla; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016829:Giardia lamblia / Q000235:genetics*; D005873:Giardiasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D057805:Pets; D012307:Risk Factors; D015047:Zoonoses
keywords: Assemblage; Chinchillas; Genotype; Giardia duodenalis; Prevalence