title: Food handlers as a link in the chain of transmission of Giardia duodenalis and other protozoa in public schools in southern Brazil.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Food handlers (FHs) may facilitate transmission and dissemination of pathogens. The importance of FHs as a link in the epidemiological chain of transmission of Giardia duodenalis and other intestinal protozoa was assessed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fecal and subungual material from 27 FHs were analyzed using parasitological methods. G. duodenalis was identified by direct immunofluorescence and genotyped by PCR-RFLP for the bg and gdh genes, and gdh was sequenced.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At least one protozoan was detected in 30% (8/27) of the FHs and G. duodenalis (19%; 5/27) was the most common species. The AII and BIV genotypes were found in 20% (1/5) and 60% (3/5) of FHs infected with G. duodenalis, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FHs can be involved in the chain of transmission of G. duodenalis and other protozoa.
  KJ741310 - KJ741313.
authors.affiliation: Environmental and Food Parasitology Laboratory, State University of Maringá (UEM), Paraná, Brazil criscolli@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: Cristiane Maria
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Colli
authors.affiliation: Environmental and Food Parasitology Laboratory, State University of Maringá (UEM), Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Renata Coltro
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Bezagio
authors.affiliation: Environmental Management, Control and Preservation Laboratory, State University of Maringá (UEM), Parana, Brazil.
authors.forename: Letícia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nishi
authors.affiliation: Statistics Department, State University of Maringá (UEM), Parana, Brazil.
authors.forename: Érika Cristina
authors.initials: ÉC
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.affiliation: Environmental and Food Parasitology Laboratory, State University of Maringá (UEM), Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Lúcia
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Falavigna-Guilherme
authors.affiliation: Environmental and Food Parasitology Laboratory, State University of Maringá (UEM), Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mônica Lúcia
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Gomes
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005511:Food Handling; D017125:Genes, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics; D005838:Genotype; D016829:Giardia lamblia / Q000235:genetics*; D005873:Giardiasis / Q000235:genetics / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009262:Nails / Q000469:parasitology; D012572:School Health Services; D017132:Workplace
keywords: Endolimax nana; Feces; Genotyping techniques; Giardiasis; Subungual deposits