Skhal Dania, Aboualchamat Ghalia, Al Mariri Ayman, Al Nahhas Samar
Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Science, Damascus University, Damascus, Syria.
Atomic Energy Commission of Syria, Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Microbiology and Immunology Division, Syria.
Infect Genet Evol. 2017 Jan;47:155-160. doi: 10.1016/j.meegid.2016.11.030. Epub 2016 Dec 3.
Giardia duodenalis is one of the most important human enteric parasites worldwide and is endemic throughout the world with a vast range of mammalian hosts. However, there is limited information on the prevalent genetic variability of G. duodenalis in Syria. This study aimed to evaluate the predominance of G. duodenalis assemblages/sub-assemblages causing humans infection in the city of Damascus and its suburbs. 40 symptomatic giardiasis patients were recruited in this study. Fecal samples were genotyped using PCR/RFLP assay targeting the β-giardin and glutamate dehydrogenase (gdh) genes. HaeIII, BspL1 and RsaI restriction enzymes were used to differentiate between G. duodenalis assemblages/sub-assemblages. Our data showed that 65% of isolates were of assemblage A; 45% belonged to sub-assemblage AII and 20% to sub-assemblage AI. Assemblage B was detected in 27.5% of isolates; 12.5% fit in sub-assemblage BIV, 5% fit in sub-assemblage BIII and 10.5% fit in Discordant genotype BIII/BIV. Mixed genotypes (AII+BIII and AI+BIV) were identified in 3 isolates (7.5%). Significant correlation was found between Giardia AII sub-assemblage and weight loss symptom (P-value=0.05) as well as between contact with domestic animals (cats, P-value=0.027). Moreover, a significant correlation was found between sub-assemblage AI and livestock breeding (P-value=0.000). In conclusion genotyping of human Giardia duodenalis isolates suggests anthroponotic transmission for the route of infection in Damascus and its suburbs. Further studies are needed to screen a wide geographic areas in Syria and to estimate the prevalence of G. duodenalis infection in our population.
十二指肠贾第虫是全球最重要的人类肠道寄生虫之一，在世界各地均有流行，宿主范围广泛，包括众多哺乳动物。然而，关于叙利亚十二指肠贾第虫流行的基因变异性的信息有限。本研究旨在评估在大马士革市及其郊区导致人类感染的十二指肠贾第虫组合/亚组合的优势情况。本研究招募了40例有症状的贾第虫病患者。粪便样本采用针对β-贾第蛋白和谷氨酸脱氢酶（gdh）基因的PCR/RFLP分析进行基因分型。使用HaeIII、BspL1和RsaI限制性内切酶区分十二指肠贾第虫组合/亚组合。我们的数据显示，65%的分离株属于A组合；45%属于AII亚组合，20%属于AI亚组合。在27.5%的分离株中检测到B组合；12.5%属于BIV亚组合，5%属于BIII亚组合，10.5%属于不一致基因型BIII/BIV。在3株分离株（7.5%）中鉴定出混合基因型（AII + BIII和AI + BIV）。发现贾第虫AII亚组合与体重减轻症状之间存在显著相关性（P值 = 0.05），以及与接触家畜（猫，P值 = 0.027）之间存在显著相关性。此外，发现AI亚组合与家畜养殖之间存在显著相关性（P值 = 0.000）。总之，人类十二指肠贾第虫分离株的基因分型表明，在大马士革市及其郊区，感染途径为人传人。需要进一步研究以筛查叙利亚更广泛的地理区域，并估计我国人群中十二指肠贾第虫感染的患病率。
