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Hommes F, Dörre A, Behnke SC, Stark K, Faber M. Autochthonous and imported giardiasis cases: An analysis of two decades of national surveillance data, Germany, 2002 to 2021. Euro Surveill 2024; 29:2300509. [PMID: 38757286 PMCID: PMC11100295 DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.es.2024.29.20.2300509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
BackgroundGiardia duodenalis is a major cause of gastroenteritis globally, and is the most common food- and waterborne parasitic infection in Europe.AimTo describe the epidemiology of reported acute giardiasis cases in Germany and compare demographic and clinical characteristics between imported and autochthonous cases.MethodsWe conducted a descriptive analysis of giardiasis cases that fulfilled the national case definition and were reported between January 2002 and December 2021. We defined an imported case as having at least one place of exposure abroad in the 3-25 days before symptom onset. We analysed case numbers and incidence by age, sex, month reported and geographic region, both overall and stratified by autochthonous and imported cases.ResultsFrom 2002 to 2021, 72,318 giardiasis cases were reported in Germany, corresponding to a mean annual incidence of 4.4 per 100,000 population. Annual incidence gradually decreased since 2013, declining sharply during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020-21. Of 69,345 cases reported between 2002 and 2019, 35% were imported. Incidence of autochthonous cases (overall yearly mean: 3.1/100,000) was highest in males and young children (< 5 years); imported cases were predominantly adults aged 20-39 years. We identified seasonal patterns for imported and autochthonous cases.ConclusionsGiardiasis in Germany is typically assumed to be imported. Our data, however, underline the importance of autochthonous giardiasis. Travel advice might reduce imported infections, but prevention strategies for autochthonous infections are less clear. Dietary, behavioural and environmental risk factors need to be further investigated to enhance infection prevention measures for autochthonous giardiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska Hommes
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
- Postgraduate Training for Applied Epidemiology (PAE), Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
- ECDC Fellowship Programme, Field Epidemiology path (EPIET), European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Achim Dörre
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
- Postgraduate Training for Applied Epidemiology (PAE), Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Susanne C Behnke
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Klaus Stark
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Mirko Faber
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
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Pipaliya SV, Dacks JB, Croxen MA. Genomic survey maps differences in the molecular complement of vesicle formation machinery between Giardia intestinalis assemblages. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2023; 17:e0011837. [PMID: 38109380 PMCID: PMC10758263 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 01/01/2024] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Giardia intestinalis is a globally important microbial pathogen with considerable public health, agricultural, and economic burden. Genome sequencing and comparative analyses have elucidated G. intestinalis to be a taxonomically diverse species consisting of at least eight different sub-types (assemblages A-H) that can infect a great variety of animal hosts, including humans. The best studied of these are assemblages A and B which have a broad host range and have zoonotic transmissibility towards humans where clinical Giardiasis can range from asymptomatic to diarrheal disease. Epidemiological surveys as well as previous molecular investigations have pointed towards critical genomic level differences within numerous molecular pathways and families of parasite virulence factors within assemblage A and B isolates. In this study, we explored the necessary machinery for the formation of vesicles and cargo transport in 89 Canadian isolates of assemblage A and B G. intestinalis. Considerable variability within the molecular complement of the endolysosomal ESCRT protein machinery, adaptor coat protein complexes, and ARF regulatory system have previously been reported. Here, we confirm inter-assemblage, but find no intra-assemblage variation within the trafficking systems examined. This variation includes losses of subunits belonging to the ESCRTIII as well as novel lineage specific duplications in components of the COPII machinery, ARF1, and ARFGEF families (BIG and CYTH). Since differences in disease manifestation between assemblages A and B have been controversially reported, our findings may well have clinical implications and even taxonomic, as the membrane trafficking system underpin parasite survival, pathogenesis, and propagation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shweta V. Pipaliya
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Joel B. Dacks
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice [Budweis], Czech Republic
| | - Matthew A. Croxen
- Division of Diagnostic and Applied Microbiology, Department of Lab Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
- Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Women and Children’s Health Research Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Alberta Precision Laboratories, Alberta Public Health Laboratory, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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Change in the incidence of intestinal diseases caused by parasitic protozoa in the Mexican population during the period (2015-2019) and its association with environmental and socioeconomic risk factors. Parasitol Res 2023; 122:903-914. [PMID: 36820929 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-023-07798-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2021] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
Diarrheal diseases are one of the main health problems worldwide, especially in developing countries with poor health systems, high rates of poverty, and poor nutrition. The main causative agents of diarrheal disease are bacteria, viruses, and parasites; among the latter, the intestinal protozoa Giardia and Entamoeba stand out. In the present work, a observational analysis of the national surveillance data of amebiasis, giardiasis, and other protozoan intestinal infections was carried out. The data issued by the Directorate General of Epidemiology was analyzed to establish its relationship with geography, socioeconomic, and environmental conditions in Mexico during the 2015-2019 period. New cases of amebiasis decreased by 25.03% between 2015 and 2019, while giardiasis and other protozoan intestinal infections remained constant; in all cases, incidence was higher in females than in males, and children under 5 years of age were the most affected. The contribution of environmental conditions (seasonality, temperature, and humidity) and socioeconomic factors in the number of protozoan intestinal infection cases was assessed by a multivariable regression model using a backward selection procedure. Peaks in cases were observed in spring and summer, which are characterized by warm and humid climates. Additionally, states with high humidity and annual average temperature contribute to a notably higher incidence of these parasites, especially annual average temperature, as demonstrated through multivariable linear regression models. Moreover, the majority of these states have the largest population living in poverty with inadequate measures for the distribution, dispensing, and sanitation of water. These data are essential to incidence rate monitoring and focus efforts on eliminating risk factors and improving health programs in Mexico.
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Krumrie S, Capewell P, McDonald M, Dunbar D, Panarese R, Katzer F, El Sakka N, Mellor D, Alexander CL, Weir W. Molecular characterisation of Giardia duodenalis from human and companion animal sources in the United Kingdom using an improved triosephosphate isomerase molecular marker. CURRENT RESEARCH IN PARASITOLOGY & VECTOR-BORNE DISEASES 2022; 2:100105. [PMID: 36504596 PMCID: PMC9731890 DOI: 10.1016/j.crpvbd.2022.100105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2022] [Revised: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Giardia duodenalis is a protozoan parasite known for its ability to cause gastrointestinal disease in human and non-human mammals. In the UK, the full impact of this parasite has yet to be fully explored, due to the limited testing which has been undertaken in humans and the low-resolution assemblage-typing methods currently available. Rather than being primarily a travel-associated condition, a recent study has highlighted that an endemic Giardia cycle is present in the UK, although the source of human disease is unclear in the majority of cases. This study focussed on the improvement of one of the commonly used assemblage-typing assays, a nested topoisomerase phosphate (tpi) PCR, to increase the amplification success rate across both human and companion animal samples. After comparing published primers to full Giardia reference genomes, this marker protocol was optimised and then deployed to test a substantial number of human (n = 79) and companion animal (n = 174) samples to gain an insight into the molecular epidemiology of Giardia in the UK. One assemblage A1 and eleven assemblage A2 genotypes were detected in humans, along with and 25 assemblage B genotypes. Assemblage A1 genotypes, known to be human-infective, were found in three feline and one canine sample, while one feline sample contained assemblage A2. Additionally, four feline samples contained assemblage B, which is recognised as potentially human-infective. This study demonstrates the presence of potentially human-infective Giardia genotypes circulating in the companion animal population, notably with 17.4% (8/46) of feline-derived Giardia strains being potentially zoonotic. Using a modified tpi-based genotyping assay, this work highlights the potential for domestic pets to be involved in the endemic transmission of giardiasis in the UK and underlines the need for appropriate hygiene measures to be observed when interacting with both symptomatic and asymptomatic animals. It also serves to underline the requirement for further studies to assess the zoonotic risk of Giardia associated with companion animals in high-income countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Krumrie
- School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Garscube Estate, 464 Bearsden Road, Glasgow, G61 1QH, UK,Corresponding author.
| | - Paul Capewell
- School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Garscube Estate, 464 Bearsden Road, Glasgow, G61 1QH, UK,BioClavis Ltd., Queen Elizabeth Teaching and Learning Centre, 1345 Govan Road, Glasgow, G51 4TF, UK
| | - Mike McDonald
- School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Garscube Estate, 464 Bearsden Road, Glasgow, G61 1QH, UK
| | - Dawn Dunbar
- School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Garscube Estate, 464 Bearsden Road, Glasgow, G61 1QH, UK
| | - Rossella Panarese
- School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Garscube Estate, 464 Bearsden Road, Glasgow, G61 1QH, UK
| | - Frank Katzer
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Edinburgh, EH26 0PZ, UK
| | - Noha El Sakka
- National Health Services Grampian, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZN, UK
| | - Dominic Mellor
- School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Garscube Estate, 464 Bearsden Road, Glasgow, G61 1QH, UK,Public Health Scotland, Meridian Court, 5 Cadogan Street, Glasgow, G2 6QE, UK
| | - Claire L. Alexander
- Scottish Microbiology Reference Laboratories (Glasgow), New Lister Building, 10-16 Alexandria Parade, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, G31 2ER, UK
| | - William Weir
- School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Garscube Estate, 464 Bearsden Road, Glasgow, G61 1QH, UK
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