Giardia Duodenalis Cysts Isolated From Wild Moose and Reindeer in Norway: Genetic Characterization by PCR-RFLP and Sequence Analysis at Two Genes

Abstract

ABSTRACT:There are few genotyping studies of Giardia duodenalis isolates from cervid hosts, although a previous study suggested that cervids may be a source of infection for humans and cattle. Giardia duodenalis isolates collected from wild moose (Alces alces) and reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) in Norway during 2002 and 2003 were characterized by polymerase chain reactionrestriction fraction length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) at the b-giardin gene, and sequence analysis at both the b-giardin and glutamate dehydrogenase (gdh) genes. All results suggested that these isolates (n525) belonged to assemblage A. Three different restriction patterns were obtained with PCR-RFLP, one of which has previously been associated with assemblage A. At the b-giardin gene, sequences from six reindeer isolates and one moose isolate were identical to a previously published assemblage A sequence from G. duodenalis cysts isolated from dairy calves. The other 10 moose isolates could be divided into five groups, with between two and 14 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from the published genotype A2. At the gdh gene, three different sequences were obtained, differing from each other by between one and 15 SNPs and which have all been previously published as genotype A1, but with different specific hosts. Grouping of the isolates based on the sequences from both genes gave complex results; whereas all the G. duodenalis isolates from reindeer grouped together, two moose isolates, which had identical sequences at the b-giardin gene, had sequences that differed from each other by 15 SNPs at the gdh gene. The results of these studies, together with the large Norwegian populations of these cervids and the amount of fecal matter they produce, indicate that moose and reindeer may be significant reservoirs of G. duodenalis infection in Norway, which may be of importance to veterinary and public health.

Multilocus genotyping of Giardia duodenalis isolates from red deer (Cervus elaphus) and roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) from Poland

“…in red deer we found a Giardia isolate belonging to sub-assemblage aiii. the sequences of the studied molecular markers of the Giardia isolate detected in red deer were identical to the sequences of the same gene fragments of Giardia isolates from fallow deer, roe deer, moose and cat, which were earlier determined as the aiii sub-assemblage (van der Giessen et al 2006, Lalle et al 2007, Robertson et al 2007, Lebbad et al 2010. Previous studies indicated that Giardia isolates from the aiii sub-assemblage are specific for cervids.…”

“…Whereas the role of pets and livestock in Giardia transmission has been studied intensively, the role of wild animals, particularly artiodactyls, has only recently been taken into consideration (trout et al 2003, lalle et al 2007, robertson et al 2007, Kutz et al 2008, Beck et al 2010. Wild cervids might play a significant role in contamination of the environment with Giardia cysts because large populations occur worldwide, they excrete a relatively large volume of faeces, and their feeding ranges usually overlap with cattle pastures.…”

“…However, there are few genotyping studies of Giardia isolates found in wild cervid animals. So far, sub-assemblage ai (with zoonotic potential) and aiii (which is mainly cervid-adapted), as well as non-zoonotic assemblage E, have been identified in cervids in different geographic regions (Trout et al 2003, van der Giessen et al 2006, Lalle et al 2007, robertson et al 2007, Beck et al 2010, lebbad et al 2010. Moreover, recent studies showed variations in dissemination of G. duodenalis genotypes among geographic regions and between farmed and wild ruminants (Feng and Xiao 2011).…”

Zoonotic Potential and Molecular Epidemiology ofGiardiaSpecies and Giardiasis

“…S3 and S4 in the supplemental material). Recently, a third subgroup within assemblage A, subgroup AIII, was identified and appears to be associated mostly with wild hoofed animals (37,219,282). It has significant sequence differences from subgroups AI and AII at all loci examined thus far ( Fig.…”

Evaluation of α-Tubulin as an Antigenic and Molecular Probe to Detect Giardia lamblia

“…IFA coupled with immunomagnetic separation is currently one of the main methods to detect Giardia [23]. In addition, PCR-RFLP had been used frequently in field investigations on the occurrence of Giardia among primary school children [24] or in wild animals [25]. Therefore, the identification and characterization of new markers is needed to improve current detection methods for G. lamblia.…”