title: Genetic analysis of Giardia and Cryptosporidium from people in Northern Australia using PCR-based tools.
abstract: To date, there has been limited genetic study of the gastrointestinal pathogens Giardia and Cryptosporidium in northern parts of Australia. Here, PCR-based methods were used for the genetic characterization of Giardia and Cryptosporidium from 695 people with histories of gastrointestinal disorders from the tropical North of Australia. Genomic DNAs from fecal samples were subjected to PCR-based analyses of regions from the triose phosphate isomerase (tpi), small subunit (SSU) of the nuclear ribosomal RNA and/or the glycoprotein (gp60) genes. Giardia and Cryptosporidium were detected in 13 and four of the 695 samples, respectively. Giardia duodenalis assemblages A and B were found in 4 (31%) and 9 (69%) of the 13 samples in persons of <9 years of age. Cryptosporidium hominis (subgenotype IdA18), Cryptosporidium mink genotype (subgenotype IIA16R1) and C. felis were also identified in single patients of 11-21 years of age. Future studies might focus on a comparative study of these and other protists in rural communities in Northern Australia.
authors: Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Institute of Parasitology, Department of Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Austria.
authors: Janine
authors: J
authors: Ebner
authors: Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors: Anson V
authors: AV
authors: Koehler
authors: Pathology Queensland, Townsville Hospital, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.
authors: Gemma
authors: G
authors: Robertson
authors: School of Medical and Applied Sciences, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, North Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia. Electronic address: r.bradbury@cqu.edu.au.
authors: Richard S
authors: RS
authors: Bradbury
authors: Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors: Aaron R
authors: AR
authors: Jex
authors: Melbourne Water Corporation, Victoria, Australia.
authors: Shane R
authors: SR
authors: Haydon
authors: Melbourne Water Corporation, Victoria, Australia.
authors: Melita A
authors: MA
authors: Stevens
authors: Pathology Queensland, Townsville Hospital, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.
authors: Robert
authors: R
authors: Norton
authors: Institute of Parasitology, Department of Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Austria.
authors: Anja
authors: A
authors: Joachim
authors: Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Electronic address: robinbg@unimelb.edu.au.
authors: Robin B
authors: RB
authors: Gasser
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology*; D003458:Cryptosporidium / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D016172:DNA Fingerprinting; D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D005260:Female; D005872:Giardia / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D005873:Giardiasis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015876:Northern Territory / Q000453:epidemiology; D010802:Phylogeny; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan
keywords: Cryptosporidium; Giardia; Northern Australia; PCR-based analyses; Pathogen; Sequencing