First Molecular Detection and Phylogenetic Analyses of Zoonotic Giardia intestinalis in Horses in Turkey.

This research study is focused on detecting and tracing the source of Giardia intestinalis, a potentially zoonotic parasitic infection, in horses located in Central Anatolia Region in Turkey.

About the Study

• The main objective of this research was to understand the prevalence of the Giardia intestinalis parasite in horses and to identify its molecular characteristics.
• The researchers aimed to discern the potential for horses to spread this parasitic infection to humans, a transmitted disease known as a zoonosis.
• The study involved 150 horses in the Central Anatolia Region of Turkey. These horses were naturally infected and showed no clinical signs of disease. The research took place from March to June in 2018.

Methodology and Results

• The researchers randomly collected fecal samples from the horses and conducted genomic DNA extractions.
• They used a technique called nested PCR to test for the presence of the gene β-giardin, which is associated with G. intestinalis.
• Out of the 150 samples, they found 25 (or 16.6%) to be positive for this gene, indicating an infection of G. intestinalis.

Significance and Findings

• Further analysis of the gene sequences suggested that the infections belonged to a category known as ‘assemblage A’. This assemblage is known to have a zoonotic potential, meaning it can be transmitted from animals to humans.
• This study is the first to document the presence of G. intestinalis in horses in Turkey.
• The authors call for further research to establish the national geographical distribution and to study the molecular epidemiology, i.e. how this infection spreads and evolves, on a larger scale.
• Understanding and monitoring the presence of this infection in horses, and its potential to spread to humans, is crucial for public health planning and prevention strategies.