Giardia duodenalis assemblage, clinical presentation and markers of intestinal inflammation in Brazilian children.
Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2008;
102:718-25. [PMID:
18485429 DOI:
10.1016/j.trstmh.2008.03.002]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2007] [Revised: 02/28/2008] [Accepted: 03/03/2008] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Data on the relationship between the two genotypes of Giardia duodenalis that infect humans, assemblages A and B, their clinical presentation and intestinal inflammation are limited. We analyzed 108 stool samples previously collected for a diarrhoeal study among Brazilian children, representing 71 infections in 47 children. Assemblage B was most prevalent, accounting for 43/58 (74.1%) infections, while assemblage A accounted for 9/58 (15.5%) infections and 6/58 (10.3%) infections were mixed (contained both assemblage A and B). There was no significant difference in diarrhoeal symptoms experienced during assemblage A, B or mixed infections. Children with assemblage B demonstrated greater variability in G. duodenalis cyst shedding but at an overall greater level (n=43, mean 3.6 x 10(5), range 5.3 x 10(2)-2.5 x 10(6)cysts/ml) than children infected with assemblage A (n=9, mean 1.4 x 10(5), range 1.5 x 10(4)-4.6 x 10(5)cysts/ml; P=0.009). Children with mixed infections shed more cysts (mean 8.3 x 10(5), range 3.1 x 10(4)-2.8 x 10(6)cysts/ml) than children with assemblage A or B alone (P=0.069 and P=0.046 respectively). This higher rate of cyst shedding in children with assemblage B may promote its spread, accounting for its increased incidence. Additionally, second and third infections had decreasing faecal lactoferrin, suggesting some protection against severity, albeit not against infection, by prior infection.
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