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Veterinary parasitology2013; 196(1-2); 31-36; doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2013.02.006

A large scale molecular study of Giardia duodenalis in horses from Colombia.

Abstract: The prevalence of Giardia duodenalis assemblages in horses is poorly known. The present study examined feces from 195 horses, 1 month-17 years of age, in 4 locations in Colombia. Prevalence of infection was determined by PCR and all positives were sequenced to determine the genotypes. Thirty four (17.4%) horses were found positive. This is the first report of G. duodenalis in horses from Colombia. Prevalence in female and male horses was 18.9% and 15.1%, respectively. Prevalence in horses 1 year of age was 21.1% and 15.1%, respectively. Molecular characterization using the beta giardin (bg), glutamate dehydrogenase (gdh), triose phosphate isomerase (tpi), and small subunit ribosomal RNA (ssurRNA) genes identified G. duodenalis Assemblages A and B, the assemblages regarded as zoonotic.
Published by Elsevier B.V.
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Publication Date: 2013-02-21 PubMed ID: 23474231DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2013.02.006Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research is a large-scale study into the prevalence of Giardia duodenalis, a parasitic microorganism, in horses in Colombia, revealing significant findings about the infection rate and the genotypes present.

Objective and Methodology

  • This study is aimed at understanding the prevalence of Giardia duodenalis in horses in Colombia, a subject which was previously not well known. The study was large scale, involving the examination of feces from 195 horses ranging from 1 month to 17 years of age across 4 different locations.
  • The researchers used a scientific technique known as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to identify the presence of Giardia duodenalis in the feces samples. PCR is a method widely used in molecular biology to make several copies of a specific DNA segment, allowing researchers to amplify a single or a few copies of a piece of DNA across several orders of magnitude, generating millions or more copies of the DNA piece.
  • All positive samples (samples in which presence of Giardia duodenalis was detected) were then sequenced to determine the genotype.

Study Findings

  • The study revealed that out of the total test subjects, 34 horses (or 17.4%) were found to be infected with Giardia duodenalis. This was noted as the first report of the parasite in Colombian horses, emphasizing the value of the study.
  • The prevalence of the infection varied slightly based on gender and age. It was observed that 18.9% of female horses and 15.1% of male horses were infected. Furthermore, 21.1% of horses less than 1 year old and 15.1% of horses older than 1 year were infected.
  • More nuanced findings were related to the genotyping of the parasite. The molecular characterization of the parasite using specific genes (beta giardin (bg), glutamate dehydrogenase (gdh), triose phosphate isomerase (tpi), and small subunit ribosomal RNA (ssurRNA)) revealed the presence of Assemblages A and B in the horses. These assemblages are known to be zoonotic, meaning they can be transmitted from animals to humans, which potentially increases the public health importance of these findings.

Cite This Article

APA
Santín M, Cortés Vecino JA, Fayer R. (2013). A large scale molecular study of Giardia duodenalis in horses from Colombia. Vet Parasitol, 196(1-2), 31-36. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2013.02.006

Publication

Veterinary parasitology
ISSN: 1873-2550
NlmUniqueID: 7602745
Country: Netherlands
Language: English
Volume: 196
Issue: 1-2
Pages: 31-36
PII: S0304-4017(13)00118-0

Researcher Affiliations

Santín, Mónica
  • Environmental Microbial and Food Safety Laboratory, ARS, US Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD, USA. monica.santin-duran@ars.usda.gov
Cortés Vecino, Jesús A
    Fayer, Ronald

      MeSH Terms

      • Aging
      • Animals
      • Colombia / epidemiology
      • Feces / parasitology
      • Female
      • Giardia lamblia / genetics
      • Giardiasis / epidemiology
      • Giardiasis / parasitology
      • Giardiasis / veterinary
      • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
      • Horse Diseases / parasitology
      • Horses
      • Male
      • Prevalence

      Citations

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