Molecular Characterization of Giardia intestinalis and  Cryptosporidium spp. Detected in Humans in Ağrı, Türkiye

Selahattin  Aydemir; Fethi  Barlık; Abdurrahman  Ekici; Dilara Hande  Barlık; Sevil  Alkan; Esra  Gürbüz; Hasan  Yılmaz

doi:10.18502/ijpa.v19i1.15188

Selahattin Aydemir Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Van Yüzüncü Yıl University, Van, Turkey
Fethi Barlık Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Van Yüzüncü Yıl University, Van, Turkey
Abdurrahman Ekici Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Van Yüzüncü Yıl University, Van, Turkey
Dilara Hande Barlık Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Science, Van Yüzüncü Yıl University, Van, Turkey
Sevil Alkan Department of Infectious Disease and Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Çanakkale, Turkey
Esra Gürbüz Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, SBU Van Training and Research Hospital, Van, Turkey
Hasan Yılmaz Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Van Yüzüncü Yıl University, Van, Turkey

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijpa.v19i1.15188

Keywords: Cryptosporidium spp.; Epidemiology; Genotype; Giardia intestinalis; Subtypes; Turkey

Abstract

Background: We aimed to determine the prevalence of Giardia intestinalis and Cryptosporidium spp. in patients who admitted hospital with diarrhea and to gain information about the transmission of these parasites in Ağrı, Türkiye.

Methods: This study included 184 patients who applied to Ağrı-Diyadin State Hospital, Türkiye in 2022. The immunochromatographic card test was used for detection of the G. intestinalis and Cryptosporidium spp. Nested PCR-RFLP analysis of the COWP gene and sequence analysis of the gp60 gene were used to genotype and subtype Cryptosporidium spp., whereas Nested PCR and sequence analyses of β-giardin gene were used genotype G. intestinalis.

Results: Of the 184 stool specimens examined, 12 (14.29%) and 7 (3.80%) were positive for G. intestinalis and Cryptosporidium spp., respectively. The Cryptosporidium species were identified as C. parvum belonging to the IId subtype family. The G. intestinalis were identified assemblages A.

Conclusion: Assemblage A, which is associated with diarrhea, is responsible for giardiasis and C. parvum IId subtype, often found in sheep, goats and cattle, is responsible for cryptosporidiosis in Ağrı, Türkiye.