engleski

A survey of Giardia duodenalis in Zoo animals in Zagreb, Croatia

A total of 294 faecal samples were collected during a 1 year period from animal species housed at the Zagreb Zoo, and tested for the presence of Giardia spp. cysts using an immunofluorescence (IF) assay. Giardia spp. cysts were found in the faeces of Primates (Pan troglodytes, Lemur catta), Carnivora (Acinonyx jubatus, Panthera leo, P. uncia, P. pardus, Chrysocyon brachyurus, Helarctos malayanus, Procyon lotor), Artiodactyla (Bison bonasusr, Pecari tajacu, Syncerus cafer), Hyracoidea (Provacia capensis), Pinnipedia (Halichoerus grypus), Rodentia (Callosciurus prevosti), Marsupialia (Trichosurus vulpecula), and Squamata (Elaphe quatrolienata, Eublepharis macularius). In general, the number of cysts was quite small (with the exception of the raccoon ), therefore the possibility of a passive carriage could not be excluded. DNA was extracted from IF positive samples (n= 26), but successful amplification was obtained only for 20 of them. The Giardia species/assemblages were determined by nested PCR and RFLP and/or -giardin (BG) and triose phosphateβ sequence analysis of fragments of the isomerase (tpi) genes. All samples were typed as Giardia duodenalis. TPI sequencing showed the presence of assemblage B in a squirrel and a rock hyrax (subtype B IV), in a chimpanzee and a bear (a new B subtype), and in the lemur (another B subtype), whereas assemblage A has been found in a pecari and in a raccoon (subtypes closely related to A I). Interestingly, assemblage C was identified in a leopard geko (by sequencing) and in a snow leopard (using PCR-RFLP). Furthermore, PCR-RFLP indicated the presence of assemblage B in faecal samples of a lion and a wolf. BG sequencing showed the presence of assemblage A in a oryx sample and in a second pecari sample (both typed as subtype A2, which is of zoonotic relevance). However, in some cases, the two assays have given contrasting results, and the exact identification of the assemblages was problematic. These samples are currently being analysed using other PCR assays, in an effort to understand the causes of this assemblage “ swapping” . This is the first report on the molecular characterization of Giardia duodenalis from Zoo animals, and has revealed many potential new host species of this widespread parasite.

Giardia duodenalis; Zoo animals; prevalence; genotyping

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