Abstract
BackgroundGiardiasis, caused by Giardia duodenalis (syn. Giardia intestinalis, Giardia lamblia), is a significant zoonotic parasitic disease of animals and humans worldwide. Accurate genotyping of G. duodenalis is essential for efficient control and management of giardiasis. The objectives of the present study were to investigate the prevalence and assemblages of giardiasis in pigs in Shaanxi Province, northwestern China, and for the first time study multilocus genotypes (MLGs) in pigs using multilocus genotyping technology in this region.ResultsOf 560 faecal samples collected from five farms in Shaanxi Province, 45 were positive for G. duodenalis and significant differences in prevalence were observed among different locations. Differences in prevalence were also detected in pigs of different age groups, with the highest prevalence in sows and the lowest in boars. Two assemblages, A and E, were identified, and a mixed infection of both A and E was identified in one faecal sample. Assemblage E was predominant and widely distributed in all investigated areas and age groups. Genetic viability was detected for both assemblages, and four different multi-locus genotypes (MLGs) within assemblage E were found, MLGE1-MLGE4.ConclusionsGiardia duodenalis was detected in pigs from Shaanxi Province, northwestern China, and genetic diversity was observed in these infections. Both assemblages A and E were detected, and four distinct MLGs within assemblage E were identified. These findings provide new data for controlling G. duodenalis infection in pigs.
Highlights
No clinical signs are observed in most pigs carrying G. duodenalis, they still shed infective G. duodenalis cysts into the environment which can survive for extended periods in cool, humid environments
Considering that exposure to infective cysts through contaminated water and food is the primary mechanism of G. duodenalis transmission to animals and humans [39, 40], investigating G. duodenalis infection in pigs has important implications for controlling giardiasis in humans and animals
Comparison of these results with results obtained from other pig farms showed that the prevalence of G. duodenalis in pigs in Shaanxi Province in China was lower than that in Australia (31.1%) [41], Ontario, Canada (66.4%) [42], Denmark (14.0–17.4%) [43,44,45], Poland (9.5%) [46], Lusaka, Zambia (12.0%) [25], and Preston and Cheshire, UK (57.1%) [47], but higher than in Prince Edward Island, Canada (1.0%) [48], Preah Vihear, Cambodia (0) [49], Istanbul, Turkey (3.7%) [50], Norway (1.5%) [51] and Ohio, USA (7.4%) [52]
Summary
Giardia lamblia), is a significant zoonotic parasitic disease of animals and humans worldwide. Giardia lamblia), an important parasitic protozoan, inhabits the gastrointestinal tracts of animals. It causes giardiasis, with clinical presentations ranging from chronic to acute diarrhea, dehydration, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and weight loss [1], leading to large economic impacts [2]. Giardia duodenalis has been reported in a wide variety of other hosts worldwide, including sheep, goats, cattle, and non-human primates [6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20]
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