GIARDIA INTESTINALIS ASSEMBLAGES AMONG EGYPTIAN SYMPTOMATIC/ASYMPTOMATIC CASES IN CAIRO

Abstract

Giardia intestinalis is frequent enteric protozoa, affecting humans worldwide. Human infections are mainly caused by two genetically different assemblages call A and B. This cross-sectional study aimed to characterize the Giardia genotypes isolated from the stool of symptomatic and asymptomatic Egyptians in Cairo and correlate these genotypes with the demographic and clinical data of the cases. Stool samples were collected from 389 individuals (245 complaining of gastrointestinal (GIT) symptoms and 144 apparently healthy asymptomatic individuals), and microscopically examined. Positive Samples for G. intestinalis were molecularly characterized by Copro-nPCR targeting beta-giardin gene, and then analyzed by RFLP for assemblage identification. Giardia was detected in 62 samples (15.9%); 53 samples in symptomatic cases (21.6%) and 9 samples in asymptomatic individuals (6.25%). DNA of positive samples was amplified by nPCR-RFLP assays. There was a significant predominance of assemblage B among the symptomatic (82.7%) and asymptomatic (77.8%) groups, while the rest of samples had assemblage A. Among the studied clinical data, only flatulence was significantly associated with Giardia infection with assemblage B. Assemblage B is the predominant genotype found in Egypt in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients suggesting an anthropologic transmission cycle.