High prevalence Giardia duodenalis assemblage B and potentially zoonotic subtypes in sporadic human cases in Western Australia

Numerous foodborne outbreaks of diarrheal illness associated with the consumption of produce contaminated with protozoan parasites have been reported in North America in recent years. The present study reports on the presence of Cyclospora, Cryptosporidium, and Giardia in precut salads and leafy greens purchased at retail in Ontario, Canada. A total of 544 retail samples were collected between April 2009 and March 2010 and included a variety of salad blends and individual leafy greens. Most of these products were grown in the United States, with some from Canada and Mexico. Parasites were eluted and concentrated before detection by PCR and immunofluorescence microscopy. DNA sequences were aligned with reference sequences in GenBank. Cyclospora spp. were identified by PCR–restriction fragment length polymorphism in nine (1.7%) samples and by DNA sequence analysis. Cryptosporidium spp. were identified in 32 (5.9%) samples; 29 were sequenced and aligned with the zoonotic species Cryptosporidium parvum. Giardia duodenalis was identified in 10 (1.8%) samples, and of the 9 samples successfully sequenced, 7 aligned with G. duodenalis assemblage B and 2 with assemblage A, both of which are also zoonotic. The presence of Cryptosporidium oocysts and Giardia cysts was confirmed in some of the PCR-positive samples using microscopy, while Cyclospora-like oocysts were observed in most of the Cyclospora PCR-positive samples. The relatively high prevalence of these parasites in packaged salads and leafy greens establishes a baseline for further studies and suggests a need for additional research with respect to the possible sources of contamination of these foods, the determination of parasite viability and virulence, and means to reduce foodborne transmission to humans.

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Molecular Characterization of Giardia duodenalis in Children and Adults Sampled in Algeria

Microorganisms ◽

10.3390/microorganisms9010054 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 54

Author(s):

Salem Belkessa ◽

Daniel Thomas-Lopez ◽

Karim Houali ◽

Farida Ghalmi ◽

Christen Rune Stensvold

Keyword(s):

Real Time ◽

Molecular Characterization ◽

Real Time Pcr ◽

Intestinal Parasites ◽

Giardia Duodenalis ◽

Specific Pcr ◽

Stool Samples ◽

Pcr Targeting ◽

Assemblage B

The molecular epidemiology of giardiasis in Africa remains unclear. A study was carried out across four hospitals in Algeria. A total of 119 fecal samples from 55 children, 37 adults, and 27 individuals of undetermined age, all scored positive for intestinal parasites by microscopy, and were screened by real-time PCR for Giardia. Molecular characterization of Giardia was performed by assemblage-specific PCR and PCR targeting the triose phosphate isomerase gene (tpi). Of the 119 samples, 80 (67%) were Giardia-positive by real-time PCR. For 48 moderately-highly real-time PCR-positive samples, tpi genotyping assigned 22 samples to Assemblage A and 26 to Assemblage B. Contrary to Assemblage A, Assemblage B exhibited substantial genetic diversity and allelic heterozygosity. Assemblage-specific PCR proved to be specific for discriminating Assemblage A or B but not as sensitive as tpi genotyping. We confirmed that real-time PCR is more sensitive than microscopy for detecting Giardia in stool samples and that robust amplification and sequencing of the tpi gene is feasible when moderate-to-strongly real-time PCR-positive samples are used. This study is one of the few performed in Africa providing genotyping data on Giardia infections in humans. Both assemblages A and B were commonly seen and not associated with specific sociodemographic data.

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High prevalence of Trypanosoma vegrandis in bats from Western Australia

Veterinary Parasitology ◽

10.1016/j.vetpar.2015.10.016 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 214 (3-4) ◽

pp. 342-347 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Jill M. Austen ◽

Mark O'Dea ◽

Bethany Jackson ◽

Una Ryan

Keyword(s):

Western Australia ◽

High Prevalence ◽

Trypanosoma Vegrandis

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Detection of potentially human infectious assemblages of Giardia duodenalis in fecal samples from beef and dairy cattle in Scotland

Parasitology ◽

10.1017/s0031182018001117 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 146 (9) ◽

pp. 1123-1130 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Paul M. Bartley ◽

Beeke K. Roehe ◽

Sarah Thomson ◽

Hannah J. Shaw ◽

Frederieke Peto ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sequence Analysis ◽

Beef Cattle ◽

Dairy Cattle ◽

Age Groups ◽

Giardia Duodenalis ◽

Host Age ◽

Fecal Samples ◽

Different Ages ◽

Sequence Types ◽

Assemblage B

AbstractThis study aimed to determine the prevalence and assemblages of Giardia duodenalis present in Scottish beef and dairy cattle at different ages, to try to ascertain if cattle could play a role in the spread of zoonotic assemblages of Giardia. A total of 388 fecal samples (128 beef and 253 dairy, seven of unknown breed) were collected from 19 farms in Scotland. Samples were sub-divided by host age, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, 7–24 and ⩾25 weeks. DNA was extracted and tested by PCR to detect G. duodenalis DNA. Of the 388 samples, 126 tested positive, giving an overall prevalence of 32.5%, with positive samples being observed in all age groups tested. The prevalence in dairy cattle was 44.7% (113/235), which was significantly higher (P < 0.001) than the prevalence in beef cattle 10.1% (13/128). Sequence analysis demonstrated the presence of assemblage E (77.2%, sequence types E-S1–E-S5), assemblage B (18.2%) and assemblage A (sub-assemblages AI-AII) (4.6%). These data demonstrate that G. duodenalis is found routinely in both dairy and beef cattle throughout Scotland; the presence of assemblages A and B also indicates that cattle may play a role in the spread of potentially zoonotic assemblages of Giardia.

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The assemblage B of Giardia duodenalis is the most common assemblage in isolates from southeast of Iran

Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Disease ◽

10.12980/apjtd.7.2017d7-186 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 7 (12) ◽

pp. 715-718 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Akram Rostaminia ◽

◽

Adel Ebrahimzadeh ◽

Mahnaz Shahrakipoor ◽

◽

...

Keyword(s):

Giardia Duodenalis ◽

Assemblage B

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Occurrence and multilocus genotyping of Giardia duodenalis in pets and zoo animals in Shanghai, China

The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries ◽

10.3855/jidc.8421 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 11 (06) ◽

pp. 479-486 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Hua Liu ◽

Yujuan Shen ◽

Aiqin Liu ◽

Jianhai Yin ◽

Zhongying Yuan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Giardia Duodenalis ◽

Pcr Amplification ◽

Amino Acid Sequences ◽

Giardia Infection ◽

Multilocus Genotyping ◽

High Prevalence ◽

Amplification Rate ◽

Zoo Animals ◽

First Time

Introduction: High prevalence of Giardia infections occurs in humans and animals, partly because of the increasing numbers of pets. We determined the presence and genotypes of G. duodenalis in pets and zoo animals. Methodology: A total of 84 specimens were collected from dogs and cats from a pet hospital, and 54 specimens from a zoo, which included deer, tigers, yaks, and others. All the specimens were examined by microscopy and by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and subsequent sequencing of glutamate dehydrogenase (gdh), beta-giardin (bg), and triose phosphate isomerase (tpi) genes. Results: Giardia infection was confirmed in 5.95% and 15.48% of animals by microscopy and by PCR, respectively; the detection levels were 13.33% and 26.67% for pets, and 1.85% and 9.26% for zoo animals. Four assemblages were identified: assemblage C in dogs, cats, and a sheep; D in dogs, a wolf, a yak, and a leopard; E in a sheep; and F in a cat and a leopard. PCR gave the highest amplification rate at the gdh locus. Eight, five, and four sequences were novel at the gdh, bg, and tpi loci, respectively. Two tpi sequences of dog-derived assemblage C had 100% homology with amino acid sequences from human-derived isolates. Conclusions: The molecular characterization of G. duodenalis in pets and zoo animals in China is described. Assemblage D was identified in a yak and a leopard for the first time. Multilocus genotyping analysis identified the same tpi gene sequences of assemblage C in dogs and humans, indicating potential zoonotic transmission.

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High prevalence of coeliac disease in a population‐based study from Western Australia: a case for screening?

The Medical Journal of Australia ◽

10.5694/j.1326-5377.2002.tb04421.x ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 176 (6) ◽

pp. 298-298

Author(s):

John K Olynyk ◽

Digby J E Cullen ◽

Guy Vautier ◽

Judith A Collett ◽

Dominic F Mallon ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Coeliac Disease ◽

Western Australia ◽

Population Based ◽

Population Based Study ◽

High Prevalence

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High prevalence of coeliac disease in a population‐based study from Western Australia: a case for screening?

The Medical Journal of Australia ◽

10.5694/j.1326-5377.2001.tb143555.x ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 175 (5) ◽

pp. 247-250 ◽

Cited By ~ 59

Author(s):

Chris J Hovell ◽

Judith A Collett ◽

Guy Vautier ◽

Andy JP Cheng ◽

Erica Sutanto ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Coeliac Disease ◽

Western Australia ◽

Population Based ◽

Population Based Study ◽

High Prevalence

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High Prevalence of Clostridium difficile in Home Gardens in Western Australia

Applied and Environmental Microbiology ◽

10.1128/aem.01572-20 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 87 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Nirajmohan Shivaperumal ◽

Barbara J. Chang ◽

Thomas V. Riley

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Clostridium Difficile ◽

Western Australia ◽

Brain Heart Infusion ◽

Home Gardens ◽

Home Garden ◽

Toxin Gene ◽

Content Type ◽

High Prevalence ◽

Shoe Soles

ABSTRACT In recent years, community-associated Clostridium difficile infection (CA-CDI) has emerged as a significant health problem, accounting for ∼50% of all CDI cases. We hypothesized that the home garden environment could contribute to the dissemination of C. difficile spores in the community and investigated 23 homes in 22 suburbs of Perth, Western Australia. We identified a high prevalence of toxigenic C. difficile in this environment. In total, 97 samples consisting of soil (n = 48), compost (n = 15), manure (n = 12), and shoe sole swabs (n = 22) were collected. All samples were cultured anaerobically on C. difficile ChromID agar and enriched in brain heart infusion broth, and isolates were characterized by toxin gene PCR and PCR ribotyping. Two-thirds (67%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 57 to 76%) of home garden samples, including 79% (95% CI, 68 to 91%) of soil, 67% (95% CI, 43 to 90%) of compost, 83% (95% CI, 62% to 100%) of manure, and 32% (95% CI, 12 to 51%) of shoe sole samples, contained C. difficile. Of 87 isolates, 38% (95% CI, 28 to 48%) were toxigenic, and 26 PCR ribotypes (RTs), 5 of which were novel, were identified. The toxigenic C. difficile strain RT014/020 was the most prevalent RT. Interestingly, 19 esculin hydrolysis-negative strains giving white colonies were identified on C. difficile ChromID agar, 5 of which were novel toxigenic RTs that produced only toxin A. Clearly, there is the potential for transmission of C. difficile in the community due to the contamination of home gardens. Our findings highlight the importance of a “One Health” approach to dealing with CDI. IMPORTANCE Recently, community-associated Clostridium difficile infection (CA-CDI) has emerged as a significant problem, accounting for ∼50% of all CDI cases and reported to affect a younger population without traditional risk factors. Possible sources of CA-CDI are soil, food, and water contaminated by animal feces, and recent reports show overlapping ribotypes of C. difficile in animals, humans, and the environment; however, the epidemiology of CA-CDI and related risk factors need to be better understood. Our research aimed to determine the prevalence of C. difficile in home gardens and on the shoe soles of homeowners in Perth, Western Australia. There were high rates of contamination with C. difficile in gardens, and some of the ribotypes identified had been isolated from human cases of CDI in Western Australia. This study shows that home gardens and shoes may be a source of C. difficile in CA-CDI.

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