Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Siirt University, Siirt, Türkiye

2 Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Siirt University, Siirt, Türkiye

3 Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Dicle University, Diyarbakır, Türkiye

4 Department of Genetics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Van Yüzüncü Yıl University, Van, Türkiye

5 Özalp Vocational School, Van Yüzüncü Yıl University, Van, Türkiye

6 Department of Basic Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Marmara University, İstanbul, Türkiye

7 Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Siirt University, Siirt, Türkiye

8 Department of Parasitology, Van Yüzüncü Yıl University, Faculty of Medicine, Van, Türkiye

Abstract

Giardia duodenalis is a protozoan parasite found in humans and several mammals. This parasite spreads worldwide and is generally recognized as a zoonotic agent being reported to be one of the most common causes of diarrhea in humans and animals. In this study, it was aimed to determine the prevalence and genotypes of G. duodenalis in shelter dogs in Diyarbakır province being located in the southeastern Anatolia region of Türkiye. Native-Lugol method and nested polymerase chain reaction analyses of 100 fecal samples showed a prevalence of 3.00 and 4.00%, respectively. The prevalence was higher in females and in those younger than 1 year. Sequence analysis revealed the presence of zoonotic assemblage B, assemblage D and assemblage E. The detection of zoonotic assemblage B in this study suggests that dogs may be a reservoir for human giardiasis. Further molecular research is needed to determine the genotype diversity of Giardia as well as its possible role in the transmission of this parasite to humans.

Keywords

Main Subjects

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