Giardia lamblia genotyping and its zoonotic potential in the northeast of the São Paulo State

• Grant number: 07/04040-6
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: April 01, 2008
• End date: March 31, 2010
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Parasitology - Protozoology of Parasites
• Principal Investigator: Ricardo Luiz Dantas Machado
• Grantee: Ricardo Luiz Dantas Machado
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto (FAMERP). Secretaria de Desenvolvimento Econômico (São Paulo - Estado). São José do Rio Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Diarrhea can be either infectious or non-infectious. The first type is related with an infectious agent and represents the more frequent form of the disease, between the individuals that live in adverse conditions. The Giardia lamblia parasite has been associated with diarrheic episodes in epidemiological surveys. Two groups (1 plus 2 and 3) of this protozoan were described in the Europe (Poland and Belgium) and in the United States of America whereas in Australia genotypes were classified as A and B. Molecular studies point to the existence of genetic differences in the A genotype into Groups A-I and A-II. This last one was identified only in human fecal samples until now. Animal focused studies were able to isolated genotypes C, D and E from dogs as well as from ungulate commercially important animals, and genotypes F and G from cats and rats, respectively. The present study will evaluate the molecular epidemiology of G. lamblia and its zoonotic potential in dogs and its proprietors in São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo State. The initial screening for the presence of G lamblia will be done by microscopic and immunological methods in all fecal samples. DNA will be extracted from feces by the phenol-chloroform method and genotypes will be identified by PCR with genotypes specific-primers. The results will add information on the Brazilian circulating genotypes and, therefore, can provide subsidies for the characterization of the parasite zoonotic profile. Ultimately, our data will improve control measures of this disease. (AU)