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Parasitology research2020; 119(2); 483-490; doi: 10.1007/s00436-019-06594-2

Prevalence and multilocus analysis of Giardia duodenalis in racehorses in China.

Abstract: Giardia duodenalis is a zoonotic intestinal parasite infecting humans and mammals worldwide. In this study, we evaluated the prevalence of G. duodenalis in racehorses in China and genetically characterized it. In total, 621 fecal samples were collected from racehorses at 17 equestrian clubs in 15 cities in China. Forty-eight (7.7%) animals from 11 equestrian clubs were positive for G. duodenalis of assemblages A (n = 10), B (n = 36), and E (n = 2), based on the small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene. Statistically significant differences in the prevalence of this parasite were detected among the different equestrian clubs (χ2 = 49.55, df = 16, p < 0.01), whereas no significant differences were detected according to age (χ2 = 0.64, df = 1, p > 0.05) or sex (χ2 = 1.41, df = 2, p > 0.05). The G. duodenalis-positive samples were further subtyped based on three other genes, which identified 5, 4, and 4 genotypes at the triose phosphate isomerase (tpi), glutamate dehydrogenase (gdh), and β-giardin (bg) loci, respectively. Subassemblage BIV was the predominant genotype. A phylogenetic analysis of the concatenated sequences of subassemblage BIV showed that the multilocus genotypes from the horses were genetically different from those of humans and nonhuman primates, indicating the evolution of host separation in G. duodenalis subassemblage BIV. Our study extends our understanding of the transmission of G. duodenalis between animals and humans.
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Publication Date: 2020-01-09 PubMed ID: 31919578DOI: 10.1007/s00436-019-06594-2Google 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 study investigates the occurrence and genetic characteristics of intestinal parasite Giardia duodenalis in racehorses throughout China. The findings demonstrate that the parasite is presents in horses and varies genetically in different regions, but does not significantly differ by age or sex of the horse.

Methodology

  • The study used fecal samples from 621 racehorses, gathered from 17 equestrian clubs across 15 cities in China.
  • The samples were screened for G. duodenalis using small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene.
  • From the positive samples, the parasite was further classified through three other genes: the triose phosphate isomerase, glutamate dehydrogenase, and β-giardin.

Results

  • A total of 48 horses (7.7%) tested positive for G. duodenalis. These were from 11 different equestrian clubs, indicating differences in prevalence among clubs.
  • The subtypes of the parasite detected were assemblages A (10 cases), B (36 cases), and E (2 cases).
  • A statistical analysis showed significant differences in parasite prevalence between different equestrian clubs. However, no significant differences were found based on the age or sex of the horses.
  • The further subtyping of positive samples revealed 5, 4, and 4 genotypes in the tpi, gdh, and bg loci, respectively. The predominant genotype was subassemblage BIV.

Implications and Conclusions

  • The study provided insights into the genetic differences and evolution of G. duodenalis subassemblage BIV across different host species.
  • The multilocus genotypes from the horses were found to be genetically distinct from those found in humans and nonhuman primates, suggesting that host separation evolution has occurred in G. duodenalis subassemblies.
  • The findings could be instrumental in understanding the transmission dynamics of G. duodenalis between humans and animals, which could have implications for public health.

Cite This Article

APA
Qi M, Ji X, Zhang Y, Wei Z, Jing B, Zhang L, Lin X, Karim MR, Wang H, Sun M. (2020). Prevalence and multilocus analysis of Giardia duodenalis in racehorses in China. Parasitol Res, 119(2), 483-490. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-019-06594-2

Publication

Parasitology research
ISSN: 1432-1955
NlmUniqueID: 8703571
Country: Germany
Language: English
Volume: 119
Issue: 2
Pages: 483-490

Researcher Affiliations

Qi, Meng
  • College of Animal Science, Tarim University, Alar, Xinjiang, 843300, People's Republic of China.
Ji, Xiangbo
  • Experimental and Research Center, Henan University of Animal Husbandry and Economy, Zhengzhou, People's Republic of China.
Zhang, Ying
  • College of Animal Science, Tarim University, Alar, Xinjiang, 843300, People's Republic of China.
Wei, Zilin
  • College of Animal Science, Tarim University, Alar, Xinjiang, 843300, People's Republic of China.
Jing, Bo
  • College of Animal Science, Tarim University, Alar, Xinjiang, 843300, People's Republic of China.
Zhang, Longxian
  • College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450046, Henan, People's Republic of China.
Lin, Xuhui
  • Key Laboratory of Livestock Disease Prevention of Guangdong Province, Scientific Observation and Experiment Station of Veterinary Drugs and Diagnostic Techniques of Guangdong Province, Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Animal Health, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510640, People's Republic of China.
Karim, Md Robiul
  • Department of Medicine, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur, 1706, Bangladesh.
Wang, Haiyan
  • Experimental and Research Center, Henan University of Animal Husbandry and Economy, Zhengzhou, People's Republic of China. 1115110106@qq.com.
Sun, Mingfei
  • Key Laboratory of Livestock Disease Prevention of Guangdong Province, Scientific Observation and Experiment Station of Veterinary Drugs and Diagnostic Techniques of Guangdong Province, Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Animal Health, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510640, People's Republic of China. smf7810@126.com.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • China / epidemiology
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins / genetics
  • Feces / parasitology
  • Female
  • Genotype
  • Giardia lamblia / genetics
  • Giardia lamblia / isolation & purification
  • Giardiasis / epidemiology
  • Giardiasis / parasitology
  • Giardiasis / veterinary
  • Glutamate Dehydrogenase / genetics
  • Horses / parasitology
  • Host Specificity / physiology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Multilocus Sequence Typing
  • Phylogeny
  • Prevalence
  • Protozoan Proteins / genetics
  • Triose-Phosphate Isomerase / genetics
  • Zoonoses / parasitology

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Citations

This article has been cited 4 times.
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