Multilocus Genotyping of <i>Giardia duodenalis</i> in Mostly Asymptomatic Indigenous People from the Tapirapé Tribe, Brazilian Amazon
Pamela Carolina Köster,
Antonio F. Malheiros,
Jeffrey J. Shaw,
Sooria Balasegaram,
Alexander Prendergast,
Héloïse Lucaccioni,
Luciana Melhorança Moreira,
Larissa M. S. Lemos,
Alejandro Dashti,
Begoña Bailo,
Arlei Marcili,
Herbert Sousa Soares,
Solange Maria Gennari,
Rafael Calero-Bernal,
David González-Barrio,
David Carmena
Affiliations
Pamela Carolina Köster
Parasitology Reference and Research Laboratory, Spanish National Centre for Microbiology, Majadahonda, 28220 Madrid, Spain
Antonio F. Malheiros
Post-Graduation Program in Environmental Science, Faculty of Agricultural and Biological Sciences, University of State of Mato Grosso, Cáceres, MG 78200-000, Brazil
Jeffrey J. Shaw
Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, São Paulo University, São Paulo, SP 05508-000, Brazil
Sooria Balasegaram
Field Epidemiology Services, National Infection Service, Public Health England, London SE1 8UG, UK
Alexander Prendergast
Independent Researcher, Croydon CR0, UK
Héloïse Lucaccioni
European Program for Intervention Epidemiology Training (EPIET), European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), 16973 Stockholm, Sweden
Luciana Melhorança Moreira
Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Biological Sciences, University of State of Mato Grosso, Cáceres, MG 78200-000, Brazil
Larissa M. S. Lemos
Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of State of Mato Grosso, Cáceres, MG 78200-000, Brazil
Alejandro Dashti
Parasitology Reference and Research Laboratory, Spanish National Centre for Microbiology, Majadahonda, 28220 Madrid, Spain
Begoña Bailo
Parasitology Reference and Research Laboratory, Spanish National Centre for Microbiology, Majadahonda, 28220 Madrid, Spain
Arlei Marcili
Post-Graduation Program in Veterinary Medicine, Santo Amaro University, São Paulo, SP 04829-300, Brazil
Herbert Sousa Soares
Post-Graduation Program in Veterinary Medicine, Santo Amaro University, São Paulo, SP 04829-300, Brazil
Solange Maria Gennari
Post-Graduation Program in Veterinary Medicine, Santo Amaro University, São Paulo, SP 04829-300, Brazil
Rafael Calero-Bernal
SALUVET Research Group, Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
David González-Barrio
Parasitology Reference and Research Laboratory, Spanish National Centre for Microbiology, Majadahonda, 28220 Madrid, Spain
David Carmena
Parasitology Reference and Research Laboratory, Spanish National Centre for Microbiology, Majadahonda, 28220 Madrid, Spain
Little information is available on the occurrence and genetic variability of the diarrhoea-causing enteric protozoan parasite Giardia duodenalis in indigenous communities in Brazil. This cross-sectional epidemiological survey describes the frequency, genotypes, and risk associations for this pathogen in Tapirapé people (Brazilian Amazon) at four sampling campaigns during 2008–2009. Microscopy was used as a screening test, and molecular (PCR and Sanger sequencing) assays targeting the small subunit ribosomal RNA, the glutamate dehydrogenase, the beta-giardin, and the triosephosphate isomerase genes as confirmatory/genotyping methods. Associations between G. duodenalis and sociodemographic and clinical variables were investigated using Chi-squared test and univariable/multivariable logistic regression models. Overall, 574 individuals belonging to six tribes participated in the study, with G. duodenalis prevalence rates varying from 13.5–21.7%. The infection was positively linked to younger age and tribe. Infected children G. duodenalis infections and showed a high genetic diversity. No association between assemblage and age or occurrence of diarrhoea was demonstrated. These data indicate that the most likely source of infection was anthropic and that different pathways (e.g., drinking water) may be involved in the transmission of the parasite.
