First report of Giardia duodenalis infection in bamboo rats

Yi Wang,Guang-Hui Zhao,Hui-Jun Zhang,Hao-Xian Wu,Xun Ma

doi:10.1186/s13071-018-3111-2

Yi Wang, Guang-Hui Zhao + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-018-3111-2

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Abstract

BackgroundThe zoonotic parasite, Giardia duodenalis (syns. G. lamblia and G. intestinalis), has been widely reported in humans and animals, including rodents. The bamboo rat, a rodent species belonged to the subfamily Rhizomyinae, is farmed in China because of its medicinal and edible values. However, no information of G. duodenalis infection was available in bamboo rats prior to the present study. Here, the prevalence and genetic diversity of G. duodenalis in bamboo rats from Hunan Province of China were investigated.ResultsOf 480 faecal samples collected from six farms located in four cities (Wugang, Chenzhou, Huaihua and Jishou) of Hunan Province, 52 (10.8%) were positive for G. duodenalis infection by using a nested PCR approach targeting the beta giardin (bg) gene. Significant differences (P < 0.01) in prevalence were found among different age groups and geographical localities, and among different farms in Wugang city. Sequence analysis revealed existence of the zoonotic assemblage B and genetic diversity of G. duodenalis in these animals. Multilocus genotyping analysis also indicated broad genetic diversity of assemblage B isolates in these bamboo rats.ConclusionsThis is the first report of the infection and genetic variations of G. duodenalis in bamboo rats. These findings will provide basic data for implementing effective strategies to control giardiasis in bamboo rats.

Highlights

72.4% in farmed animals, and 3.2–83.0% in wild rodents (e.g. Apodemus spp., Microtus spp., Myodes spp., house mice, brown rats, Asian house rats, beavers, roof rats and deer mice) [7, 9,10,11,12, 36, 38,39,40,41, 53,54,55,56,57]. This parasite was detected in bamboo rats from Hunan Province of China, and 52 (10.8%) of 480 samples were positive for G. duodenalis infection based on the nested PCR amplification targeting the bg gene
Detection procedures and targets are possible factors affecting the rates of G. duodenalis infection
Due to its multiple-copy nature [58], the small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene was commonly used as a good marker to detect G. duodenalis infection in animals and humans [22, 58, 59]

Summary

Introduction

G. lamblia and G. intestinalis), has been widely reported in humans and animals, including rodents. The bamboo rat, a rodent species belonged to the subfamily Rhizomyinae, is farmed in China because of its medicinal and edible values. The infection is commonly asymptomatic or self-limiting in immunocompetent hosts [22, 23], watery diarrhea and other significant clinical impacts due to G. duodenalis infection could be observed in young, undernourished, The bamboo rat (Rhizomys sinensis), a rodent species belonging to the subfamily Rhizomyinae, is widely distributed in southern Asia, i.e. southern China, India, Myanmar, northern Vietnam and Thailand [28, 29]. Because of the high protein content, low fat and cholesterol of bamboo rat meat [30], the medicinal and edible values of this animal are favored by people [30]. The transmission risk to people of some zoonotic pathogens

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