Prevalence of Giardia duodenalis genetic assemblages isolated from dogs and cats in Poland
Abstract
Introduction
Giardia duodenalis (syn. G. intestinalis and G. lamblia) is a protozoan intestinal parasite that infects various vertebrates. Genetic analyses of G. duodenalis have identified eight genetic assemblages (groups), designated A–H. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of G. duodenalis in household dogs and cats in Poland, analyse isolates by assemblage and relate assemblage results to zoonotic potential.
Material and Methods
From January to February 2024, 1,937 faecal samples from dogs and 1,077 samples from cats were examined microscopically for G. duodenalis cysts using the zinc flotation method. Positive samples were retained for further molecular tests. Genetic analysis was performed on the basis of the β-giardin locus which is 511 base pairs long. The obtained sequences were compared with reference sequences in the GenBank database.
Results
Giardia duodenalis cysts were detected in 11.3% (219/1,937) of dogs and 7.06% (76/1,077) of cats using the zinc flotation method. Assemblages B, C, D and F were identified in 11, 77, 126 and 5 dogs, respectively. All isolates from cats were identified as assemblage F.
Conclusion
The high rate of infection in pets increases the risk of transmission of zoonotic Giardia genetic assemblages to humans.
© 2025 Dawid Jańczak, Jakub Olszewski, Aleksandra Kornelia Maj, Piotr Górecki, Magdalena Nowak, Olga Szaluś-Jordanow, published by National Veterinary Research Institute in Pulawy
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.