Authors
1 M.Sc. Student of Parasitology, Afzalipour School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
2 Assistant Professor of Parasitology, Afzalipour School of Medicine,& Leishmaniasis Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
3 Associate Professor of Parasitology, Afzalipour School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
4 Student of Medicine, Afzalipour School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
5 Staff Member, Dadbin Health Care Center, Kerman, Iran
6 Staff Member, Department of Parasitology, Afzalipour School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
Abstract
Background & Aims: Giardiasis is one of the human parasitic diseases caused by a flagellate protozoan
named Giardia duodenalis (G.lamblia). Giardia is one of the most common organisms causing diarrhea in
human and also a common gastrointestinal parasite in vertebrates.
Methods: A total of 352 stool samples were collected from patients infected with giardiasis referred to
health centers in Kerman city. Samples were examined by formalin- ether concentration procedure. First,
DNA extraction was performed on 30 stool samples containing adequate Giardia cysts and then PCR-RFLP
was done on glultamate dehydrogenase (gdh) marker. Clinical signs of patients were recorded in a
questionnaire and their relationships with molecular results were analyzed.
Results: The highest rate of infection was in the age group of 0-12 years with significant difference with
other age groups (P<0.0001). The most common clinical signs were abdominal pain (71.7%), diarrhea
(69%), abdominal cramping (54.1%) and the least common signs were malaise (20.4%) and fever (16.1%).
Of all 30 isolates, 18 samples (60%) were found as genotype All, 5 ones (16.7%) belonged to Al assemblage
and 7 samples (23.3%) were BIII assemblage. There was a significant difference between genotyping of
Giardia and clinical signs of diarrhea, abdominal signs and nausea (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Higher prevalence of Giardiasis was found in the age group below 12 years, but clinical signs
in different age groups and two sexes were identical. Assemblage A showed correlation with mild
intermittent diarrhea and assemblage B had correlation with persistent diarrhea.
Keywords
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