Prevalence and genetic characterization of Giardia lamblia in relation to diarrhea in Limpopo and Gauteng provinces, South Africa.

Autor: Samie A; Molecular Parasitology and opportunistic infections program, Department of Microbiology, University of Venda, Private Bag X5050, Thohoyandou, Limpopo, South Africa., Tanih NF; Medical Research Council Unit, Fajara, the Gambia., Seisa I; Molecular Parasitology and opportunistic infections program, Department of Microbiology, University of Venda, Private Bag X5050, Thohoyandou, Limpopo, South Africa., Seheri M; South African Medical Research Council Diarrhoeal Pathogens Research Unit, Department of Medical Virology, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Medunsa, 0204, Pretoria, South Africa., Mphahlele J; South African Medical Research Council, 1 Soutpansberg Road, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa., ElBakri A; Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences,College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, PO Box 27272, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates., Mbati P; Deputy Pro Vice Chancellor Academics and Quality, Botho University, Botho Education Park, Kgale, Gaborone, Botswana.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Parasite epidemiology and control [Parasite Epidemiol Control] 2020 Jan 31; Vol. 9, pp. e00140. Date of Electronic Publication: 2020 Jan 31 (Print Publication: 2020).
DOI: 10.1016/j.parepi.2020.e00140
Abstrakt: Background: Very few studies have determined the prevalence and assemblage distribution of Giardia lamblia in South Africa. The present study aimed to ascertain the prevalence of G. lamblia infection and the spread of the various assemblages in two communities in South Africa - Giyani, Limpopo province (rural community) and Pretoria Guateng province (urban community).
Methods: Prevalence was determined by immunological and molecular methods analyzing a total of 516 stool samples collected from patients visiting different health centres in Giyani and Pretoria. For immunological assays, samples were screened by ELISA to detect G. lamblia antigen. Furthermore, a semi nested PCR amplifying the triose phosphate isomerase (tpi) gene was used to differentiate between the two most common human assemblages (A and B).
Findings: Of the 516 participants, 40 (7.75%) were identified as positive by ELISA. A statistically significant correlation was observed between the stool texture and Giardia infection (ᵡ 2 = 10.533; p  = .005). G. lamblia was significantly associated with watery stool types in females p  = .008. Furthermore, a significant association was also noticed between the origin of samples (ᵡ 2 = 9.725; p  = .002). No significant correlation between age and gender was noted. Regarding the age groups, most people who were infected were between 3 and 20 years. A statistically significant association was seen ( p  = .001) with the distribution of the pathogen with the stool type. The prevalence of Giardia infection was higher in watery stool samples (71.4%) in Giyani region (rural) whereas in Pretoria, high prevalence was found in loose stool samples (6.2%). Generally, the distribution was statistically significant in the stool type collected for the study ( p  = .005). Genotyping revealed more G. lamblia assemblage B (17.8%) than assemblage A (1.7%). Furthermore, 21.0% of the samples exhibited single infection while 4.2% had mixed infections. Assemblage B was more common in Giyani than in urban Pretoria.
Conclusions: The study confirms Giardia as an important cause of diarrhea in the concerned communities with people in rural areas more at risk compared to those in urban areas with higher prevalence among younger patients. Therefore, health education campaigns should target young age groups.
Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.
(© 2020 The Authors.)
Databáze: MEDLINE