Molecular analysis of Giardia duodenalis isolates from symptomatic and asymptomatic children from La Habana, Cuba

• Published in: Parasite epidemiology and control 2017-08, Vol.2 (3), p.105-113
• Main Authors: Jerez Puebla, Luis Enrique, Núñez, Fidel A., Santos, Lissette Pérez, Rivero, Lázara Rojas, Silva, Isabel Martínez, Valdés, Lucía Ayllón, Millán, Iraís Atencio, Müller, Norbert
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Assemblages; Children; Cuba; Giardia duodenalis; Sequences; SSU-rRNA; tpi
• ISSN: 2405-6731; 2405-6731
• DOI: 10.1016/j.parepi.2017.05.003

Giardiasis is considered the most common intestinal parasitic disease in humans worldwide. In Cuba, this infection has particularly a strong clinical impact on the child population. Giardia duodenalis is a highly diverse protozoan, which comprises a complex of eight morphologically identical genetic assemblages, further divided into sub-assemblages. The present study used triose phosphate isomerase (tpi) and small-subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) genes as genetic markers for the identification of G. duodenalis assemblages and sub-assemblages in correlation with clinical and epidemiological data in children attended at the Paediatric Hospital “William Soler” and at Pedro Kouri Institute, between 2015 and 2016. A prevalence of 8% of G. duodenalis infection was recorded in stool samples after concentration techniques from 68 children out of 847 analysed. A 100% detection of Giardia DNA was achieved by a SSU-rRNA PCR, whereas DNA from 63 of 68 (92.6%) was successfully amplified by tpi-PCR. By this assemblage-specific tpi-PCR 32 (50.8%) assemblage B, 17 (27.0%) assemblage A and 14 (22.2%) mixed infection (A+B) were identified. Assemblage B was significantly (P