Genetic characterization of Giardia duodenalis by sequence analysis in humans and animals in Pemba Island, Tanzania

Giardia duodenalis represents one of the most widespread human enteric parasites: about 200million people in Asia, Africa and Latin America are infected. Giardia exerts a deep impact on public health because of high prevalence and possible effects on growth and cognitive functions in infected children. The major aim of this study was to detect and genetically characterize G. duodenalis in both human and animal fecal samples collected in Pemba Island, in the archipelago of Zanzibar (Tanzania), in order to deepen the knowledge of genotypes of Giardia in this area. Between October 2009 and October 2010, we collected 45 human fecal samples from children from 2 primary schools and 60 animal fecal samples: 19 from zebus (Bos primigenius indicus) and 41 from goats (Capra hircus). Detection and genetic identification were performed by multilocus analysis of ssu-rDNA and gdh genes. In humans we found a higher prevalence of assemblage B (sub-assemblage BIV), in goats of assemblage E and in zebus of assemblage A. Our study represents an important contribution to the epidemiological knowledge of G. duodenalis in this area of Tanzania.