Molecular detection of Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia duodenalis, and Enterocytozoon bieneusi in school children at the Thai-Myanmar border

• Published in: Parasitology research (1987) 2021-08, Vol.120 (8), p.2887-2895
• Main Authors: Sutthikornchai, Chantira, Popruk, Supaluk, Mahittikorn, Aongart, Arthan, Dumrongkiet, Soonthornworasiri, Ngamphol, Paratthakonkun, Chirawat, Feng, Yaoyu, Xiao, Lihua
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Children; Cryptosporidium; Cyclospora cayetanensis; DNA sequencing; Elementary school students; Enterocytozoon bieneusi; Genotype & phenotype; Genotypes; Giardia duodenalis; Immunology; Medical Microbiology; Microbiology; Nucleotide sequence; Nucleotide sequencing; Polymerase chain reaction; Protozoa; Protozoology - Original Paper; Sequence analysis
• ISSN: 0932-0113; 1432-1955
• DOI: 10.1007/s00436-021-07242-4

Few data are available on the genetic identity of enteric protists Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia duodenalis , and Enterocytozoon bieneusi in humans in Thailand. In this study, 254 stool samples were collected from primary school children from Ratchaburi Province at the Thai-Myanmar border and examined for Cryptosporidium spp., G. duodenalis , E. bieneusi and Cyclospora cayetanensis using PCR techniques. The genotype identity of the pathogens was determined by DNA sequence analysis of the PCR products. Cryptosporidium felis was found in 1 stool sample, G. duodenalis in 19 stool samples, and E. bieneusi in 4 stool samples. For G. duodenalis , sub-assemblage AII was the dominant genotype, but one infection with assemblage F was found. The E. bieneusi genotypes found included known genotypes D and J, and one novel genotype (HPTM1). Cyclospora cayetanensis was not detected in any samples. Results of the preliminary study indicate that children at the Thai-Myanmar border from Ratchaburi Province, Thailand are infected with diverse zoonotic genotypes of Cryptosporidium spp., G. duodenalis , and E. bieneusi .