Multilocus genotyping of Giardia duodenalis and Cryptosporidium spp. isolates among humans, dogs and water in Tietê riverside communities, São Paulo, Brazil

• Grant number: 13/13940-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): September 05, 2013
• Effective date (End): December 04, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Parasitology - Protozoology of Parasites
• Principal Investigator: Semíramis Guimarães Ferraz Viana
• Grantee: Érica Boarato David
• Supervisor: Simone Mario Caccio'
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IBB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil
• Research place: Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS), Italy
• Associated to the scholarship: 11/09963-0 - Multilocus genotyping of Giardia duodenalis circulating isolates in humans, dogs and water in Tietê River community, São Paulo State, BP.DR

Abstract

This project aims to investigate the transmission dynamics of Giardia duodenalis and Cryptosporidium in two fishermen colonies of the Middle Tietê Basin, São Paulo State. For this, Giardia and Cryptosporidium isolates obtained from humans, dogs and samples of raw surface water of the river will be genotyped with the purpose of assessing the occurrence and frequency of genotypes circulating among these hosts and in the environment. Concerning to Giardia, this approach was contemplated in the project entitled "Multilocus genotyping of Giardia duodenalis isolates among humans, dogs and water in Tietê riverside communities, São Paulo" that is supported by FAPESP as a Regular Research Awards (2011/52100-3) and a Fellowships Doctorate (2011/09963-0). During the execution of this research, drew our attention to the high prevalences of Cryptosporidium infection in both the human and canine (populations, beyond the detection of this parasite also in water samples collected in one of the colonies. It is important to emphasize that Cryptosporidium oocysts were detected in 61 of 126 (48%) human samples and in 29 of 49 (59%) of dog samples. Given these findings, we raised the possibility to add in the current project, the molecular characterization of Cryptosporidium isolates in order to identify the species and genotypes/subgenotypes circulating in these communities. Today, the research group headed by Dr. Simone Mario Cacciò in the "Istituto Superiore di Sanità" (Rome/Italy)t has been highlighted by the investigations aimed at the molecular and genetic characterization of parasites, including Giardia and Cryptosporidium, especially by studies in order to expand the possibilities for a better understanding of the epidemiology and public health significance of infections caused by these parasites. Thus, with regard to ongoing project and fellowship in Brazil, it is undoubted the importance of a research internship abroad as a substantial contribution to the academic training of the postgraduate student as well as to the scientific and technical maturity of the group in which the student is inserted. (AU)