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Occurrence and molecular characterization of Giardia duodenalis in lambs in Djelfa, the central steppe of Algeria

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Abstract

Little is known of the prevalence and genetic identity of Giardia duodenalis in sheep in Algeria. The present study aimed at characterizing G. duodenalis in lambs up to 6 months of age in Djelfa, Algeria. A total of 346 fecal specimens were collected from 28 farms and screened for G. duodenalis cysts by zinc sulfate flotation microscopy, and positive specimens were confirmed using a direct immunofluorescence assay. Microscopy-positive specimens were analyzed by PCR and sequence analysis of the triosephosphate isomerase and glutamate dehydrogenase genes to determine G. duodenalis assemblages. Coprological examination indicated that the overall infection rate was 7.0% (24/346). Lambs under 3 months of age had higher infection rate (18/197, 9.0%) than older (6/149, 4.0%) animals, and animals with diarrhea (7/44, 16.0%) had higher infection rate than animals without diarrhea (17/302, 5.6%). PCR sequence analyses of the 15 G. duodenalis isolates revealed the presence of assemblages A in 6 isolates, assemblage E in 7 isolates, and both in 2 isolates. Assemblage A was only found in pre-weaned lambs with diarrhea, while assemblage E was mostly found in post-weaned lambs without diarrhea. The assemblage E isolates from sheep were genetically related to those from cattle in Algeria, while assemblage A isolates were from a well-known subtype prevalent in humans. Data generated from the study improve our understanding of the transmission of G. duodenalis in Algeria.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Safia Zenia from École Nationale Supérieure Vétérinaire of Algiers for assistance in statistical analysis and the deceased Professor Said Amer from Kafr El Sheikh University Egypt for his precious contribution in this work.

Funding

This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (31820103014) and the 111 Project (D20008).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Exploration and Valorisation of Steppic Ecosystems, Faculty of Nature and Life Sciences, University of Djelfa, Moudjbara Road, BP 3117, 17000, Djelfa, Algeria

    Soumaya Benhassine, Ahcene Hakem & AbdElkarim Laatamna

  2. Biology Laboratory, Amar Telidji University, Route de Ghardaïa, BP 37G, 03000, Laghouat, Algeria

    Soumaya Benhassine

  3. École Nationale Supérieure Vétérinaire, Rue Issad Abbes, El Alia, Algiers, Algeria

    Djamel Baroudi

  4. Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, 30341, USA

    Djamel Baroudi, Dawn Roellig & Xiaohua Chen

  5. Laboratoire Hygiene Alimentaire Système Analyses Qualité, École Nationale Supérieure Vétérinaire, Algiers, Algeria

    Djamel Baroudi

  6. Research Center in Agropastoralism, Moudjbara Road, 17000, Djelfa, Algeria

    Ahcene Hakem

  7. UMR-BIPAR, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, Maisons-Alfort, Anses, INRAE, Paris, France

    Myriam Thomas & Karim Tarik Adjou

  8. Faculty of Exact Sciences and Natural and Life Sciences, Mohamed Khider University of Biskra, 07000, Biskra, Algeria

    Salem Belkessa

  9. Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China

    Yaoyu Feng & Lihua Xiao

Authors
  1. Soumaya Benhassine
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  2. Djamel Baroudi
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  3. Ahcene Hakem
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  4. Myriam Thomas
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  5. AbdElkarim Laatamna
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  6. Salem Belkessa
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  7. Yaoyu Feng
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  8. Dawn Roellig
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  9. Xiaohua Chen
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  10. Karim Tarik Adjou
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  11. Lihua Xiao
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lihua Xiao.

Ethics declarations

The study protocol was approved by the Faculty of Nature and Life Sciences, University of Djelfa, Algeria (Ref: AT04/E.V.E.S/2017). All specimen collection was performed by the licensed veterinarians. Informed written consent was obtained from farm owners or managers, and animals were handled in compliance with the established regulations and guidelines for laboratory animal research of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria.

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The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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Benhassine, S., Baroudi, D., Hakem, A. et al. Occurrence and molecular characterization of Giardia duodenalis in lambs in Djelfa, the central steppe of Algeria. Parasitol Res 119, 2965–2973 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-020-06808-y

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