Molecular Diversity of , spp., and sp. in Symptomatic and Asymptomatic Schoolchildren in Zambézia Province (Mozambique).

Infections by the protist enteroparasites , spp., and, to a much lesser extent, sp. are common causes of childhood diarrhoea in low-income countries. This molecular epidemiological study assesses the frequency and molecular diversity of these pathogens in faecal samples from asymptomatic schoolchildren ( = 807) and symptomatic children seeking medical attention ( = 286) in Zambézia province, Mozambique. Detection and molecular characterisation of pathogens was conducted by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based methods coupled with Sanger sequencing. was the most prevalent enteric parasite found [41.7%, 95% confidence interval (CI): 38.8‒44.7%], followed by sp. (14.1%, 95% CI: 12.1‒16.3%), and spp. (1.6%, 95% CI: 0.9‒2.5%). Sequence analyses revealed the presence of assemblages A (7.0%, 3/43) and B (88.4%, 38/43) within -positive children. Four species were detected, including (30.8%; 4/13), (30.8%, 4/13), (30.8%, 4/13), and (7.6%, 1/13). Four subtypes were also identified including ST1 (22.7%; 35/154), ST2 (22.7%; 35/154), ST3 (45.5%; 70/154), and ST4 (9.1%; 14/154). Most of the genotyped samples were from asymptomatic children. This is the first report of and ST4 in Mozambique. Molecular data indicate that anthropic and zoonotic transmission (the latter at an unknown rate) are important spread pathways of diarrhoea-causing pathogens in Mozambique.