title: Molecular Characterization and Risk Factors of Giardia duodenalis among School Children from La Habana, Cuba.
abstract: Giardia duodenalis is considered the most common protozoan infecting humans worldwide. Molecular characterization of G. duodenalis isolates has revealed the existence of eight groups (assemblages A to H) which differ in their host distribution. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 639 children from La Habana between January and December 2013. Two assemblage-specific PCRs were carried out for the molecular characterization. The overall prevalence of Giardia infection was 11.9%. DNA from 63 of 76 (82.9%) samples was successfully amplified by PCR-tpi, while 58 from 76 (76.3%) were detected by PCRE1-HF. Similar results by both PCRs were obtained in 54 from 76 samples (71%). According to these analyses, assemblage B and mixed assemblages A + B account for most of the Giardia infections in the cohort of children tested. Our current study identified assemblage B as predominant genotype in children infected with Giardia. Univariate analysis indicated that omission of washing hands before eating and keeping dogs at home were significant risk factors for a Giardia infection. In the future, novel molecular tools for a better discrimination of assemblages at the subassemblages level are needed to verify possible correlations between Giardia genotypes and symptomatology of giardiasis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Tropical Medicine Institute "Pedro Kourí", Autopista Novia del Mediodía Km 6 e/Autopista Nacional y Carretera Central, Habana, Cuba.
authors.forename: Luis Enrique
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Jerez Puebla
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Tropical Medicine Institute "Pedro Kourí", Autopista Novia del Mediodía Km 6 e/Autopista Nacional y Carretera Central, Habana, Cuba.
authors.forename: Fidel A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Núñez
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Hospital "William Soler", Avenida 100 y Perla, Altahabana, Boyeros, Habana, Cuba.
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Martínez Silva
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Tropical Medicine Institute "Pedro Kourí", Autopista Novia del Mediodía Km 6 e/Autopista Nacional y Carretera Central, Habana, Cuba.
authors.forename: Lázara
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rojas Rivero
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Hospital "William Soler", Avenida 100 y Perla, Altahabana, Boyeros, Habana, Cuba.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martínez González
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Tropical Medicine Institute "Pedro Kourí", Autopista Novia del Mediodía Km 6 e/Autopista Nacional y Carretera Central, Habana, Cuba.
authors.forename: Yuliet
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Méndez Sutil
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Hospital "William Soler", Avenida 100 y Perla, Altahabana, Boyeros, Habana, Cuba.
authors.forename: Lucía
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ayllón Valdés
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Tropical Medicine Institute "Pedro Kourí", Autopista Novia del Mediodía Km 6 e/Autopista Nacional y Carretera Central, Habana, Cuba.
authors.forename: Iraís
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Atencio Millán
authors.affiliation: Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Norbert
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Müller