Acta Veterinaria et Zootechnica Sinica ›› 2021, Vol. 52 ›› Issue (2): 300-310.doi: 10.11843/j.issn.0366-6964.2021.02.003

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Advances in Molecular Epidemiology of Giardia duodenalis from Cattle in China

CAI Weilong, LI Na, FENG Yaoyu, XIAO Lihua*   

  1. South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
  • Received:2020-07-20 Online:2021-02-23 Published:2021-02-24

Abstract: Giardia spp. are globally widespread, including seven species. One of the species, Giardia duodenalis, is an important intestinal parasite in humans and other mammals. It causes diarrhea, malnutrition, weight loss and other clinical manifestations. Molecular diagnostic tools have been developed for the detection, genotyping, and tracking of G. duodenalis, and the use of molecular diagnostic tools has significantly changed our understanding of the zoonotic potential of the parasite. G. duodenalis can be divided into 8 assemblages (A-H) using molecular typing tools. These assemblages differ significantly in host ranges, with assemblages A and B being identified as zoonosis. Cattle are commonly infected with G. duodenalis, but the current understanding of giardiasis is insufficient and the influence on public health has always been neglected. This article summarizes recent developments in the molecular epidemiology of G. duodenalis from cattle in China. It shows that the infections of G. duodenalis are widespread in China. In the distribution of G. duodenalis genotypes, assemblage E predominates while assemblages A and B occur sporadically. As assemblage E has recently been found in humans in several other countries and the occurrence of assemblage A in cattle has shown an increase in recent years, the zoonotic potential of G. duodenalis from cattle is gradually being recognized.

Key words: Giardia duodenalis, cattle, molecular epidemiology, zoonotic potential

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