REVIEW article

Front. Microbiol., 13 October 2017

Sec. Infectious Agents and Disease

Volume 8 - 2017 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2017.02004

Giardia duodenalis Infections in Humans and Other Animals in China

  • College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China

Abstract

Giardia duodenalis is an important zoonotic pathogen in both public and veterinary health, and has been genotyped into at least eight assemblages (A–H), each with a distinct host range. In recent years, this intestinal protozoan parasite has been identified widely in humans and various other animals, and has even been recorded in environmental contaminants. Along with whole genome sequencing of G. duodenalis, multilocus sequence typing is increasingly being used to characterize G. duodenalis isolates. Here, we review the epidemiology, genotyping, and subtyping of G. duodenalis from humans and a wide range of other animals, as well as from wastewater, in China.

Introduction

Giardia is one of the most common intestinal parasites of both humans and a diverse range of other animals (Feng and Xiao, 2011). The parasite was first discovered by Antonie van Leeuwenhoek over 300 years ago (Dobell, 1920), and since then, six Giardia species have been described. Among them, Giardia agilis, Giardia ardeae, Giardia psittaci, Giardia muris, and Giardia microti infect animals ranging from amphibians to rodents and birds, whereas the broad range of hosts for Giardia duodenalis (syn. Giardia intestinalis and Giardia lamblia) includes humans and domestic, farmed, and wild animals (Monis et al., 2009; Feng and Xiao, 2011; Ryan and Cacciò, 2013). Giardiasis, which is caused by Giardia duodenalis, is an important zoonotic disease for both public and veterinary health (Ryan and Cacciò, 2013).

The G. duodenalis life cycle is simple in that it comprises rapidly multiplying trophozoites (attached to intestinal epithelial cells) and cysts that are resistant to environmental degradation, which are excreted with feces and transmitted onwards via the fecal-oral route (Lv et al., 2013; Einarsson et al., 2016). G. duodenalis has long been considered to reproduce asexually by simple binary fission, but there is increasing evidence from epidemiological, molecular genetics, and whole genome sequencing studies that Giardia is capable of sexual reproduction (Cooper et al., 2007; Morrison et al., 2007; Poxleitner et al., 2008; Nolan et al., 2010; Gabín-García et al., 2017).

Molecular biological analysis of G. duodenalis has benefited from understanding the taxonomy, population genetics, and epidemiology of this pathogen, and such studies are essential to the effective control of giardiasis in clinical practice (Cacciò and Ryan, 2008). In terms of its genetic variation, G. duodenalis isolates genotypically fall into one of at least eight assemblages (A–H), each of which have a distinct host range (Cacciò and Ryan, 2008; Sprong et al., 2009; Feng and Xiao, 2011; Ryan and Cacciò, 2013). There is also genetic diversity within these assemblages. For example, sub-assemblages AI, AII, and AIII fall within assemblage A (Feng and Xiao, 2011) and BIII and BIV form assemblage B (Monis et al., 2003), while various sub-assemblages form assemblage E (Zhang et al., 2012c).

Multilocus genotyping (MLG) analysis using both conserved (e.g., ssrDNA, ef, h2b, h4) and variable (e.g., tpi, gdh, bg) genes was originally used to assess the G. duodenalis assemblages (Wielinga et al., 2011). Nowadays, variable genes such as tpi, gdh, and bg are used to characterize G. duodenalis isolates from humans and other animals and determine the genotype or subtype. These analyses provide sufficient resolution to assess the disease burden arising from zoonotic transmission of the parasite (Cacciò et al., 2008; Sprong et al., 2009; Wang et al., 2014b; Wang H. et al., 2016). To date, four genetically distinct G. duodenalis isolates (WB, AI; AS175, AII; P15, E, and GS, B) have been studied genomically (Franzén et al., 2009; Jerlström-Hultqvist et al., 2010; Adam et al., 2013) and transcriptomically (Franzén et al., 2013). Differences between the genomic and transcriptomic profiling results may explain the differences observed in host preferences and clinical presentation of G. duodenalis infection (Franzén et al., 2009, 2013; Jerlström-Hultqvist et al., 2010; Adam et al., 2013).

Annually, 280 million people worldwide are estimated to have clinically diagnosable giardiasis (Feng and Xiao, 2011; Ryan and Cacciò, 2013; Einarsson et al., 2016; Squire and Ryan, 2017), and infection rates are higher in developing countries (Feng and Xiao, 2011; Ryan and Cacciò, 2013). Giardiasis is generally a self-limiting clinical illness characterized by watery diarrhea, abdominal cramps, bloating, weight loss, and malabsorption (Feng and Xiao, 2011; Einarsson et al., 2016). However, asymptomatic infections occur more frequently than symptomatic ones (Himsworth et al., 2010; Feng and Xiao, 2011; Ryan and Cacciò, 2013; Wegayehu et al., 2016). In China, approximately 28.5 million giardiasis cases are estimated to occur in humans per year (Feng and Xiao, 2011), although the true incidence is likely underestimated as there are many undetected and/or unreported cases. In recent years, G. duodenalis has been identified in humans, non-human primates (NHPs), ruminants, companion animals, domestic animals, wildlife, and even in the environment in China (Liu et al., 2011; Wang et al., 2011, 2014b; Li N. et al., 2012; Zhang et al., 2012c; Liu A. et al., 2014; Liu H. et al., 2014; Li J. et al., 2015; Qi et al., 2016a,b; Wang H. et al., 2016). Here, the epidemiology, genotyping, and subtyping of G. duodenalis in humans and various other animals in China are summarized and reviewed.

G. duodenalis in humans

Investigations and case reports on G. duodenalis infections in humans are common in China (Table 1). Sporadic reports of human giardiasis have been documented since 1962, although a number of giardiasis cases were recoded in 1983 in Xi'an (Zhang and Li, 1983). The large number of epidemiological investigations conducted at the start of this century suggested that the average infection rate was 0.85% (197/23,098), with the highest infection rate (9.46%, 7/74) reported by one study carried out in Shanghai (Wang L. et al., 2013). Differences in the observed rates of infection may be due, in part, to the age of the patients. In China, children <15 years of age were the most affected, with the peak infection rate occurring in those aged 5–10 years (Yu et al., 1994; Lv et al., 2013). A similar observation was made in Malaysia, where children under 15 years old were more likely to be infected with G. duodenalis (Mohammed Mahdy et al., 2009; Anuar et al., 2014).

Table 1

LocationsPatient groupSpecimensPositive (%)Assemblage (no.)Subassemblage (no.)References
Shaanxi:Xi'anPatients19aCase reportsZhang and Li, 1983
Anhui10aGenotypes identifiedA (4)AII (4)Yong et al., 2000
B (4)
SichuanDiarrhea patients2aCase reportsChen, 2001
HenanInpatients18aGenotypes identifiedA (12)AI(8); AII (4)Wang et al., 2011
B (6)
Hebei: ChengdeResident2163 (1.39%)A (3)AII (3)Chen et al., 2000
Anhui: HuainanSchool pupils1,33281 (6.08%)Fu et al., 2004
Hainan: HaikouElementary school students5358 (1.50%)Gan et al., 2006
Henan: KaifengPatients6,09310 (0.16%)Wang et al., 2009
Henan: ZhengzhouPatients4,83611 (0.23%)Sun et al., 2010
Henan: ZhengzhouChildren patients1,99612 (0.60%)Xu et al., 2011
Anhui: FuyangHIV positive patients3024 (1.32%)Tian et al., 2012
Anhui: FuyangHIV negative individuals3032 (0.66%)Tian et al., 2012
ShanghaiChildren with various congenital or inherited diseases74b7 (9.46%)A (6)AII (6)Wang L. et al., 2013
ShanghaiChildren attending the endocrinology2834 (1.41%)A (2)AII (2)Wang L. et al., 2013
B (2)
Shanghaichildren attending general surgeries2160Wang L. et al., 2013
ShanghaiChildren3,47225 (0.72%)A (17)AII (17)Wang L. et al., 2013
B (9)
ShanghaiDiarrhea outpatients25217 (6.75%)B (1)Liu H. et al., 2014
C (16)
Hubei: ChibiKindergarten children201 (5.00%)Yuan et al., 2015
ShanghaiDiarrhea patients951 (1.05%)B (1)Liu H. et al., 2015
Tibet: LhasaResident1,0154 (0.39%)Liu et al., 2016
Guangdong: ShenzhenDiarrhea children1260Shen et al., 2016
Guangdong: ShenzhenDiarrhea adults patients2860Shen et al., 2016
Guangdong: ShenzhenDiarrhea patients <181260Shen et al., 2016
Yunnan: KunmingDiarrhea children8500Zhang S. X. et al., 2016
Yunnan: KunmingDiarrhea children1700Zhang S. X. et al., 2016
WuhanDiarrhea children5007 (1.40%)A (7)AII (7)Wang T. et al., 2017
Total23,098197 (0.85%)A (51); B (23); C (16)AI (8); AII (43)

Giardia duodenalis infection rates and genotypes in humans in China.

a

Not included in the G. duodenalis infection rate calculation.

b

Specimens from a cryptosporidiosis outbreak.

Despite its widespread occurrence, molecular epidemiological data for G. duodenalis infections in humans from China is limited. According to the few available genotyping studies, both assemblage A (subtypes AI and AII) and B isolates have been found in China, with subtype AII and assemblage B being the dominant genotypes (Yong et al., 2000; Wang et al., 2011; Wang L. et al., 2013; Wang T. et al., 2017). Interestingly, a canid-specific assemblage C strain, which was first identified in Egypt (Soliman et al., 2011), was found in 16 Giardia-positive diarrheal outpatients in Shanghai (Liu H. et al., 2014). MLG analysis of assemblage AII and B isolates from Shanghai identified six and 11 sequence types, respectively (Wang L. et al., 2013). No significant gender-specific association for G. duodenalis infections or assemblage distribution has been reported in China (Liu H. et al., 2014; Wang T. et al., 2017).

G. duodenalis in NHPs

The prevalence of G. duodenalis infections in NHPs varies markedly between different studies (Table 2). The average rate of infection for NHPs was 4.49% (172/3,827), with the highest rate recorded by a study conducted in Hunan Province (44.00%, 33/75). However, variability in the feeding habitats, health status, and age of the subjects, as well as differences in the geographic location and diagnostic techniques used in the studies probably contribute to the discrepant infection rates (Li J. et al., 2017).

Table 2

LocationsSpecimensPositive (%)Host species (no.)Assemblage (no.)Subassemblage (no.)References
Henan741 (1.35%)Rhesus macaque (1)Zhao et al., 2011
Guangxi2320Zhao et al., 2011
Sichuan400Zhao et al., 2011
Guizhou41135 (8.52%)Rhesus macaque (10)A (10)AII (10)Ye et al., 2012
Rhesus macaque (24)B (24)
Guangxi7844 (0.51%)Rhesus macaque / Cynomolgus monkeyLi J. et al., 2013
Guangxi2055 (2.44%)Rhesus macaque (2)A (2)AII (2)Ye et al., 2014
Rhesus macaque (3)B (3)
Beijing7216 (22.22%)Cynomolgus monkey (1)A (1)AIII (1)Karim et al., 2014, 2015
Ring-tailed lemur (6); Squirrel monkey (5); Golden monkey (3); Cynomolgus monkey (1)B (15)BIV (15)
Hebei8910 (11.24%)Ring-tailed lemur (5); Rhesus macaque (4); Mona monkey (1)B (10)BIV (10)Karim et al., 2014, 2015
Henan51820 (3.86%)Rhesus macaque (14); Japanese macaque (3); Olive baboon (2); Assam macaque (1)B (20)BIV (20)Karim et al., 2014, 2015
Shanxi669 (13.64%)Rhesus macaque (5); Yellow baboon (2); Northern white-cheeked gibbon (2)B (9)BIV (9)Karim et al., 2014, 2015
Shaanxi1974 (2.03%)Rhesus macaque (3); Saimiri sciureus (1)E (4)Du et al., 2015
Shanghai12819 (14.84%)Green monkey (1)A (1)AI (1)Karim et al., 2014, 2015
Ring-tailed lemur (10); Golden monkey (2); Squirrel monkey (2); Cynomolgus monkey (2) King colobus (1); Mandrill (1)B (18)BIV (18)
Hubei665 (7.58%)Pig-tailed macaque (4); Hamadryas baboon (1)B (5)BIV (5)Karim et al., 2014, 2015
Hunan7533 (44.00%)Ring-tailed lemur (2)A (2)AI (1); AII (1)Karim et al., 2014, 2015
Pig-tailed macaque (8); Bornean orangutan (5); Hussar monkey (5); Ring-tailed lemur (3); Squirrel monkey (3); Cynomolgus monkey (3); Green monkey (2); Roloway monkey (1); Francois' leaf monkey (1)B (31)BIV (31)
Guangdong571 (1.75%)Cynomolgus monkey (1)B (1)BIV (1)Karim et al., 2014, 2015
Guangxi3639 (2.48%)Rhesus macaque (8); White-headed (1)B (9)BIV (9)Karim et al., 2014, 2015
Sichuan3040Karim et al., 2014, 2015
Yunnan1440Karim et al., 2014, 2015
Henan21 (50.00%)Nomascus leucogenys (1)B (1)Li J. et al., 2015
Total3,827172 (4.49%)A (16); B (146); E (4)AI (2); AII (13); AIII (1); BIV (118)

Giardia duodenalis infection rates and genotypes in non-human primates in China.

Thus far, assemblage A, B, and E strains have been identified in NHPs, with assemblage B dominant in China (Karim et al., 2014, 2015). Only one study, from Shaanxi Province, identified an assemblage E isolate in NHPs in China (Du et al., 2015), although an assemblage E isolate has also been found in a red colobus monkey in western Uganda (Johnston et al., 2010). MLG has also been used for genotyping G. duodenalis in NHPs. Like humans, several assemblage A (subtypes AI and AII) and B (subtype BIV) subtypes have been identified in NHPs, with subtype BIV identified as the dominant subtype (Karim et al., 2014, 2015). A total of 15 MLG genotypes (two known and 13 novel) were reported in one study, although the two known MLG genotypes were not significant from a public health perspective (Karim et al., 2015).

Phylogenetic analysis has suggested the possibility of geographical segregation and host-adaptation amongst assemblage B strains in NHPs in China. The role of NHPs in the transmission of G. duodenalis to humans is not clear. It is believed that the frequent occurrence of assemblage B strains in captive NHPs may be associated with transmission from human sources, or an indication of adaptation to primate host (Sprong et al., 2009; Karim et al., 2015).

G. duodenalis in cattle

In cattle, G. duodenalis infections vary in their prevalence and genotypic distribution according to region and cattle species (Table 3). The first documentation of G. duodenalis infection in dairy cattle occurred in 2006 in Guangdong Province (Xiao et al., 2006). The average infection rate in cattle (including dairy cattle, beef cattle, and yaks) is 5.43% (693/12,753), with the highest rate observed in Shaanxi Province (18.87%, 70/371). However, use of different detection methods may contribute to the observed differences in prevalence.

Table 3

AnimalsLocationsSpecimensPositive (%)Assemblage (no.)Subassemblage (no.)References
Dairy cattleGuangdong1aCase reportE (1)Xiao et al., 2006
Dairy cattleHeilongjiang26aGenotypes identifiedB (10)Liu A. et al., 2014
E (16)
Dairy cattleJilin24919 (7.63%)E (19)Zhang J. et al., 2012
Dairy cattleHeilongjiang524 (7.69%)A (1)AI (1)Zhang J. et al., 2012
E (3)
Dairy cattleHeilongjiang81442 (5.16%)B (18)BI (6); BII (1); BIII (2); BIV (2); BV (1); BVI (1); BVII (1); BVIII (3); BIX (1)Liu et al., 2012
E (24)
A/E (1)
Dairy cattleHeilongjiang528 (15.38%)E (8)Liu G. et al., 2015
Dairy cattleJilin37725 (6.63%)A (1)AI (1)Liu G. et al., 2015
E (24)
Dairy cattleLiaoning22619 (8.41%)E (18)Liu G. et al., 2015
A/E (1)
Dairy cattleBeijing82214 (1.70%)E (14)Li F. et al., 2016
Dairy cattleHenan1,777128 (7.20%)A (21)AI (4); AII (3); AIII (1)Wang et al., 2014b
E (58)
A/E (2)
Dairy cattleHenan62221 (3.38%)Wang et al., 2014a
Dairy cattleHenan50748 (9.47%)E (48)Wang C. et al., 2016
Dairy cattleHenan62221 (3.38%)E (21)Zhao et al., 2016
Dairy cattleXinjiang51469 (13.42%)A (5)AI (3); AII (2)Qi et al., 2016b
E (64)
Dairy cattleGansu1,22432 (2.61%)E (32)Zhang et al., 2016a
Dairy cattleNingxia1,36629 (2.12%)B (4)BI (1); BII (3)Huang et al., 2014
E (25)
Dairy cattleNingxia1,61474 (4.58%)A (1)Zhang et al., 2016a
E (73)
CattleQinghai473 (6.38%)Ma et al., 2014
Beef/dairy cattleShaanxi37170 (18.87%)A (8)AI (8)Wang X. T. et al., 2016
E (62)
YakQinghai577 (12.28%)Ma et al., 2014
YakHenan342 (5.88%)E (2)Qi et al., 2015a
YakGansu1174 (3.42%)E (4)Qi et al., 2015a
YakSichuan1464 (2.74%)E (4)Qi et al., 2015a
YakTibet961 (1.04%)E (1)Qi et al., 2015a
YakQinghai1525 (3.29%)E (5)Qi et al., 2015a
YakQinghai938 (8.60%)E (9)Wang et al., 2016a
YakQinghai29722 (7.41%)E (22)Wang et al., 2016b
YakGansu2084 (1.92%)E (4)Song et al., 2016
YakQinghai29710 (3.37%)E (10)Wang G. et al., 2017
Total12,753693 (5.43%)E (571); A (37); B (32); A/E (4)AI (17); AII (5); AIII (1); BI (7); BII (4); BIII (2); BIV (2); BV (1); BVI (1); BVII (1); BVIII (3); BIX (1)

Giardia duodenalis infection rates and genotypes in cattle in China.

a

Not included in the G. duodenalis infection rate calculation.

There is a significant association between G. duodenalis infection and age in cattle. Most studies have reported that G. duodenalis infection rates are inversely associated with animal age in China (Liu et al., 2012; Huang et al., 2014; Wang et al., 2014b; Liu G. et al., 2015; Qi et al., 2015a; Li F. et al., 2016; Zhang et al., 2016b; Wang G. et al., 2017), except for a recent study from Xinjiang, which identified a higher prevalence in post-weaned calves (16.6%) compared with pre-weaned calves (9.7%; Qi et al., 2016b).

Cattle are dominantly infected with livestock-specific G. duodenalis assemblage E strains (Liu G. et al., 2015; Qi et al., 2015a; Li F. et al., 2016; Wang G. et al., 2017), with only a few reports of infection caused by assemblage A and/or B strains (Liu et al., 2012; Huang et al., 2014; Wang et al., 2014b; Zhang et al., 2016a). Moreover, sub-assemblages AI, AII, and AIII were identified by most studies conducted in China, with sub-assemblage AI found to be dominant (Wang et al., 2014b; Qi et al., 2016b; Wang X. T. et al., 2016). Mixed infections also appear to be common in cattle, especially those involving isolates belonging to assemblages A and E (Wang et al., 2014b; Liu G. et al., 2015).

Several studies using MLG have suggested the possibility of geographical distribution differentiation among assemblage E isolates in cattle (Wang et al., 2014b; Qi et al., 2016b; Wang X. T. et al., 2016; Zhang et al., 2016a). A MLG subtype AII isolate identical to human-derived isolates from Italy, Sweden, and China was identified in dairy cattle from Henan Province, raising the possibility of it being an important zoonotic multilocus genotype (Wang et al., 2014b).

Limited information is available on the prevalence and assemblage distribution of G. duodenalis in yaks, despite confirmed cases of infection in Qinghai, Gansu, Sichuan, and Henan Provinces, as well as in Tibet (Ma et al., 2014; Qi et al., 2015a; Song et al., 2016; Wang et al., 2016a,b; Wang G. et al., 2017). Thus far, only assemblage E isolates have been identified in yaks in China.

G. duodenalis in sheep and goats

Reports of G. duodenalis infections in sheep and goats in recent years have presented variable results (Table 4). The average infection rate in sheep and goats is 6.07% (418/6,890), with the highest infection rate recorded in goats from Chongqing city (27.78%, 5/18). Except for one study that identified two assemblage B-type isolates in sheep in Heilongjiang (Zhang et al., 2012c), all reports of G. duodenalis infections in sheep and goats in China were caused by assemblage E and A strains, with assemblage E being significantly dominant (Gu et al., 2014; Peng et al., 2016; Wang H. et al., 2016). Mixed infections of assemblage A and E strains in sheep are commonly reported (Ye et al., 2015; Wang H. et al., 2016), while sub-assemblage AI was generally the dominant sub-genotype (Zhang et al., 2012c; Ma et al., 2014; Peng et al., 2016; Wang H. et al., 2016). A recent study from Henan Province using MLG yielded one new AI sub-assemblage with zoonotic potential, and six assemblage E MLGs (Wang H. et al., 2016).

Table 4

AnimalsLocationsSpecimensPositive (%)Assemblage (no.)Subassemblage (no.)References
SheepHeilongjiang21aGenotypes identifiedA (4)Liu A. et al., 2014
E (17)
Sheep/GoatHenan88016 (1.82%)Sui et al., 2015
SheepHeilongjiang53925 (4.64%)A (4)AI(3), AIV(1)Zhang et al., 2012c
B (2)
E (19)
SheepHenan1623 (1.85%)Zhu et al., 2012
SheepHenan1,02858 (5.64%)Li M. et al., 2013
SheepHenan71639 (5.45%)A (5)AI (9)Wang H. et al., 2016
E (31)
A/E (3)
SheepJilin480Li M. et al., 2013
SheepLiaoning160Li M. et al., 2013
SheepShandong170Li M. et al., 2013
SheepInner Mongolia37516 (4.27%)A (13)AI (4); AII (1); AIV (8)Ye et al., 2015
A/E (3)
SheepQinghai618 (13.11%)Ma et al., 2014
GoatHeilongjiang1394 (2.88%)E (4)Zhang et al., 2012c
GoatHenan30171 (23.59%)Chen et al., 2015
GoatHenan631 (1.59%)Li M. et al., 2012
GoatHenan84448 (5.69%)Zhu et al., 2013
GoatAnhui807 (8.75%)Zhu et al., 2013
GoatChongqing185 (27.78%)Zhu et al., 2013
GoatQinghai500Zhu et al., 2013
GoatInner Mongolia510Zhu et al., 2013
GoatAnhui50632 (6.32%)E (32)Gu et al., 2014
GoatQinghai512 (3.92%)Ma et al., 2014
Dairy goatHenan3163 (0.95%)Cao et al., 2015
Dairy goatShaanxi17011 (6.47%)E (11)Peng et al., 2016
Meat goatHenan14435 (24.31%)E (35)Peng et al., 2016
Cashmere goatShaanxi31534 (10.79%)A (4)AIV (4)Peng et al., 2016
E (30)
Total6,890418 (6.07%)E (179); A (30); B (2); A/E (6)AI (16); AIV (13); AII (1);

Giardia duodenalis infection rates and genotypes in sheep and goats in China.

a

Not included in the G. duodenalis infection rate calculation.

G. duodenalis in dogs and cats

In recent decades, a large number of cases of G. duodenalis infection in dogs, and some in cats, have been documented in different regions of China (Table 5). The first report of G. duodenalis infection in dogs occurred in 2000 in Jilin Province (He et al., 2000). The average infection rate in dogs is 13.64% (757/5,549), with the highest rate in Shanghai City (26.19%, 127/485) (Xu et al., 2016), whereas the average rate in cats is 10.19% (32/314), with the highest rate of infection also observed in Shanghai (13.13%, 21/160) (Xu et al., 2016).

Table 5

AnimalsLocationsSpecimensPositive (%)Assemblage (no.)Subassemblage (no.)References
DogJilin1aCase reportHe et al., 2000
DogJilin1aCase reportHe et al., 2002
DogBeijing2aCase reportsGao et al., 2009
DogGuangdong1aCase reportA (1)Zhu et al., 2011
DogGuangdong2aCase reportsA (1)AI (1)Zhang et al., 2011
D (1)
DogGuangdong1aCase reportD (1)Li et al., 2011
DogGuangdong1aCase reportD (1)Li et al., 2012a
DogShaanxi56aCase statisticsQuan et al., 2016
DogJinlin24261 (25.21%)He et al., 2001
DogHenan40415 (3.71%)Qi et al., 2010a
DogHenan53172 (13.56%)Qi et al., 2011
DogSichuan14646 (31.51%)Hu et al., 2011
DogBeijing910109 (11.98%)Bi et al., 2011
DogShaanxi12011 (9.17%)Wang et al., 2015
DogHenan35871 (19. 83%)Dong et al., 2015
DogGuangdong20923 (11.00%)A (5)AI (5)Li et al., 2012b
D (23)
DogLiaoning20527 (13.17%)A (25)AI (25)Li W. et al., 2013
C (2)
DogGuangdong21621 (9.72%)A (7)AI (7)Zheng et al., 2014
C (2)
D (1)
A/C (2);
A/D (7);
C/D (2)
DogHeilongjiang26712 (4.49%)C (7)Li W. et al., 2015
E (5)
DogHenan940134 (14.26%)C (37)Qi et al., 2016a
D (44)
DogShanghai485127 (26.19%)A (23)AII (23)Xu et al., 2016
B (1)
C (26)
D (58)
A/C (2)
A/D (1)
C/D (10)
DogQinghai312 (6.45%)Ma et al., 2014
DogQinghai101 (10.00%)A (1)Wang G. et al., 2013
DogTaiwan424 (9.52%)Liang et al., 2012
DogTaiwan11811 (9.32%)C (7)Tseng et al., 2014
D (4)
DogAnhui21510 (4.65%)B (6)Gu et al., 2015
D (4)
DogZhejiang1000Gu et al., 2015
Subtotal5,549757 (13.64%)D (137); C (81); A (63); B (7); E (5); C/D (12); A/D (8); A/C (4)AI (38); AII (23)
CatHebei1aCase reportCui et al., 2010
CatGuangdong1aCase reportF (1)Zheng et al., 2013
CatGuangdong10210 (9.80%)A (8)AI (8)Zheng et al., 2015
F (1)
A/C (1)
CatShanghai16021 (13.13%)A (2)AI (1); AII (1)Xu et al., 2016
B (6);
C (2)
D (1)
F (7)
CatHeilongjiang521 (1.92%)F (1)Li W. et al., 2015
Subtotal31432 (10.19%)A (10); F (10); B (6); C (2); D (1); A/C (1)AI (9); AII (1)

Giardia duodenalis infection rates and genotypes in dogs and cats in China.

a

Not included in the G. duodenalis infection rate calculation.

Scant information on the epidemiology or molecular characteristics of G. duodenalis in dogs and cats in China is currently available. G. duodenalis assemblages A, C, and D have been identified as the most common genotypes in dogs, with A and F most prevalent in cats. Occasionally, assemblage B and E isolates have been reported (e.g., in two studies on dogs; Gu et al., 2015; Li W. et al., 2015), while assemblage B, C, and D isolates have been reported in cats (Zheng et al., 2015; Xu et al., 2016).

In general, sub-assemblage AI appears to be the dominant sub-genotype amongst isolates derived from dogs and cats in China (Li et al., 2012b; Li W. et al., 2013; Zheng et al., 2014, 2015), which agrees with findings from the limited number of reports from dogs and cats in Europe, USA, Brazil, Australia, and Japan (Vasilopulos et al., 2007; Volotão et al., 2007; Sprong et al., 2009; Feng and Xiao, 2011). However, one study from Shanghai showed that amongst 25 assemblage A sequences obtained from dog and cat specimens, 23 canine sequences and one feline sequence were identified as subtype AII (Xu et al., 2016).

G. duodenalis in pigs

G. duodenalis infections in pigs have been reported in Australia, Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America (Feng and Xiao, 2011). However, there are limited reports on the prevalence and genotypes of this organism in pigs in China, except in Sichuan Province, where the average infection rate was 3.51% (24/683, Table 6). Although assemblage E was the predominant genotype amongst these isolates from China, assemblage A is also frequently identified (Li W. et al., 2016; Li J. et al., 2017). In contrast, isolates belonging to assemblages A–F have been found in domestic pigs in other countries, with assemblage B and E isolates found in Canada (Budu-Amoako et al., 2012), assemblage C and F isolates in the UK (Minetti et al., 2014), assemblage A, D, and E isolates in Denmark (Petersen et al., 2015), and isolates belonging to assemblages A, E, and F identified in Australia (Armson et al., 2009). Thus far, the majority of the assemblage A strains from pigs in China belong to sub-assemblage AI (Li W. et al., 2016, 2017).

Table 6

AnimalsLocationsSpecimensPositive (%)Assemblage (no.)Subassemblage (no.)References
Wild boarsSichuan30811 (3.57%)A (1)AI (1)Li W. et al., 2016
E (10)
PigSichuan182 (11.11%)E (2)Li W. et al., 2016
Wild boarsSichuan35711 (3.08%)A (2)AI (2)Li J. et al., 2017
E (9)
Subtotal68324 (3.51%)E (21); A (3)AI (3)
RabbitsHeilongjiang14aGenotypes identifiedB (14)Liu A. et al., 2014
RabbitsHenan1,02780 (7.79%)Xi et al., 2011b
RabbitsHenan1,08157 (5.27%)Shi et al., 2010
RabbitsHenan30512 (3.93%)Xi et al., 2011a
RabbitsHeilongjiang37828 (7.40%)B (28)BI (18);BII (4); BIII (3); BIV (1); BV (1); BVI (1)Zhang et al., 2012b
RabbitsHenan95580 (8.38%)B (26)BIV (26)Qi et al., 2015b
E (2)
B/E (4)
Subtotal3,746257 (6.86%)B (68); E (2); B/E (4)BI (18); BII (4); BIII (3); BIV (27); BV (1); BVI (1)
RodentHenan14038 (27.14%)A (5)AI (5)Qi et al., 2015c
B (33)BIV (31)
RodentHenan23214 (6.03%)G (14)Zhao Z. et al., 2015
RodentHenan9636 (37.50%)Lv et al., 2009b
RodentHenan43991 (20.72%)Qi et al., 2010b
RodentHenan15334 (22.22%)Lv et al., 2009a
Subtotal1,060213 (20.09%)B (33); G (14); A (5)AI (5); BIV(31)

Giardia duodenalis infection rates and genotypes in pigs, rabbits, and rodents in China.

a

Not included in the G. duodenalis infection rate calculation.

G. duodenalis in rabbits

G. duodenalis infections occur in rabbits in China at an average rate of 6.86% (271/3,746), and have mainly been documented in Henan and Heilongjiang Provinces (Table 6). Although assemblage E isolates are occasionally found (Qi et al., 2015b), assemblage B strains appear dominant in rabbits in China (Zhang et al., 2012b; Liu A. et al., 2014; Qi et al., 2015b), which agrees with reports from Europe (Pantchev et al., 2014) and the USA (Sulaiman et al., 2003).

G. duodenalis in rodents

G. duodenalis infections have been reported in rodents in Norway (Robertson et al., 2007), Poland (Bajer, 2008), Latin America (Bueno et al., 2016), Europe (Pantchev et al., 2014), and Sweden (Lebbad et al., 2010). Currently, G. duodenalis infections in rodents in China have only been reported in Henan Province, where the average infection rate was 20.09% (213/1,060; Table 6). According to the limited number of genotyping studies on G. duodenalis in rodents in China, only assemblage A and B strains, which have zoonotic potential, and host-adapted assemblage G isolates have been identified (Qi et al., 2015c; Zhao Z. et al., 2015).

G. duodenalis in other mammals

G. duodenalis infections have also been reported in beavers, Chinese leopards, Siberian tigers, golden takins, raccoon dogs, horses, deer, and donkeys (Table 7). Some of these infections have high prevalence rates, such as in donkeys in Shandong Province (18.27%, 19/104) (Zhang et al., 2017), raccoon dogs in Liaoning Province (15.28%, 11/72) (Zhang et al., 2016b), golden takins in Shaanxi Province (8.90%, 17/191) (Zhao G. H. et al., 2015), and Pika (9.09%, 1/11) and donkeys (7.69%, 1/13) in Qinghai Province (Ma et al., 2014).

Table 7

AnimalsLocationsSpecimensPositive (%)Assemblage (no.)References
PikaQinghai111 (9.09%)Ma et al., 2014
Chinese leopardHenan21 (50.00%)F (1)Li J. et al., 2015
BeaverHenan11 (100.00%)B (1)Li J. et al., 2015
Siberian tigerHenan62 (33.33%)F (2)Li J. et al., 2015
Golden takinsShaanxi19117 (8.90%)B (3)Zhao G. H. et al., 2015
E (14)
Grazing horsesXinjiang2624 (1.50%)A (2)Qi et al., 2015d
B (2)
Raccoon dogJilin1107 (6.36%)C (6)Zhang et al., 2016b
C/D (1)
Raccoon dogHeilongjiang403 (7.50%)C (3)Zhang et al., 2016b
Raccoon dogShandong290Zhang et al., 2016b
Raccoon dogHebei541 (1.85%)C (1)Zhang et al., 2016b
Raccoon dogLiaoning7211 (15.28%)C (10)Zhang et al., 2016b
C/D (1)
DonkeyQinghai131 (7.69%)Ma et al., 2014
DonkeyJilin485 (10.42%)B (5)Zhang et al., 2017
DonkeyShandong10419 (18.27%)B (19)Zhang et al., 2017
DonkeyLiaoningz294 (13.79%)B (4)Zhang et al., 2017
DeerHenan1995 (2.51%)E (5)Unpublished
Total1,17182 (7.00%)A (2); B (34); C (20); E (19); F (3); C/D (2)

Giardia duodenalis infection rates and genotypes in other mammals in China.

Certain G. duodenalis assemblages have been associated with host adaptation in specific animals, such as, assemblages C and D in raccoon dogs (Zhang et al., 2016b), assemblage E in golden takins (Zhao G. H. et al., 2015) and deer (unpublished data), and assemblage F in a Chinese leopard and Siberian tigers (Li J. et al., 2015). Zoonotic G. duodenalis isolates belonging to assemblages A and B were also identified in beavers (Li J. et al., 2015), golden takins (Zhao G. H. et al., 2015), and horses (Qi et al., 2015d). The number of zoonotic isolates found in wild animals is quite limited, an observation supported by a large survey of G. duodenalis in wild mammals from Croatia that revealed a low prevalence and limited zoonotic potential for the parasite (Beck et al., 2011). This suggests that wild animals are probably not a major reservoir for human infections.

G. duodenalis in wastewater

Cases of giardiasis associated with polluted recreational and potable waters have been documented for more than a century worldwide (Guy et al., 2003; Karanis et al., 2007; Moss, 2016). Although there have been no G. duodenalis outbreaks documented in China, a high prevalence of oocysts was identified amongst samples from numerous municipal and domestic raw water sources in Shanghai (Zhang et al., 2010; Li N. et al., 2012), Guangzhou (Zhong et al., 2010; Sun et al., 2014), Wuhan (Li N. et al., 2012; Sun et al., 2014), Jiangsu (Sun et al., 2014), Harbin (Liu et al., 2011; Zhang et al., 2012a), Guiyang (Chen et al., 2009), Nanjing (Li N. et al., 2012), Qingdao (Li N. et al., 2012), Taiwan (Liang et al., 2012), and Qinghai (Ma et al., 2014), among others.

Assemblage A and B isolates, which have zoonotic potential, were identified in urban waste in China (Liu et al., 2011; Liang et al., 2012; Li N. et al., 2012), suggesting that this pathogen could be maintained and transmitted by water sources, with the attendant risk of disease outbreaks occurring. Similarly, zoonotic isolates were also identified in Iran (Mahmoudi et al., 2015), Australia (Nolan et al., 2013; Koehler et al., 2016), Malaysia (Lim et al., 2009a,b, and Portugal (Lobo et al., 2009), among others. Isolates belonging to other assemblages, such as assemblage E, were also documented in wastewater in France (Bertrand and Schwartzbrod, 2007).

Conclusions and perspectives

In conclusion, G. duodenalis is widely distributed in humans and various other animals in China. Among the G. duodenalis assemblages, A and B are considered to have the broadest host specificities, and strains belonging to these assemblage types have zoonotic potential. Generally speaking, assemblage A isolates are more frequently found in humans, livestock, and companion animals, while assemblage B isolates are commonly isolated from humans, NHPs, and rabbits, with only a few reports of infections in sheep, goats, dogs, and cats in China. Cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs are predominantly infected with host-specific assemblage E isolates, while assemblage C and D isolates have been found in dogs, assemblage F is associated with cats, and rodents tend to be infected with assemblage G isolates. Within assemblage A, humans and NHPs are more commonly infected with subgroup AII isolates, while in other animals, sub-assemblage AI is predominant.

Most molecular investigations of G. duodenalis in China have only examined one or two loci, which cannot provide sufficient information on the transmission profile of this pathogen. However, the availability of the whole genome sequence of G. duodenalis has enhanced population genetics-based studies, and multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) tools are increasingly being used for characterizing G. duodenalis infections in humans and animals. Access to these methods is especially important for gaining a better understanding of some host-adapted assemblages (e.g., C, D, E, and F) that are pathogenic in humans, and for assessing the zoonotic assemblages (A and B) with infective potential. Therefore, a comprehensive and systematic study based on MLST analysis should be carried out to allow a full assessment of the burden of giardiasis of animal origin in humans.

Statements

Author contributions

LZ conceived the idea for the review and revised the manuscript. JL and HW wrote the manuscript, and JL, HW, and RW reviewed and abstracted the data from each selected article.

Funding

This study was supported in part by the Key Program of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31330079), the Natural Science Foundation of Henan Province (162300410129), the Key National Science and Technology Specific Projects (2012ZX10004220-001), and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (U1404327).

Acknowledgments

We thank Tamsin Sheen, Ph. D, from Liwen Bianji, Edanz Editing China (www.liwenbianji.cn/ac), for editing the English text of a draft of this manuscript.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

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Summary

Keywords

G. duodenalis, humans, animals, prevalence, assemblage, multilocus sequence typing, China, zoonotic

Citation

Li J, Wang H, Wang R and Zhang L (2017) Giardia duodenalis Infections in Humans and Other Animals in China. Front. Microbiol. 8:2004. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.02004

Received

03 June 2017

Accepted

29 September 2017

Published

13 October 2017

Volume

8 - 2017

Edited by

Guan Zhu, Texas A&M University, United States

Reviewed by

Federica Berrilli, Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata, Italy; Anjan Debnath, University of California, San Diego, United States

Updates

Copyright

*Correspondence: Longxian Zhang ;

This article was submitted to Infectious Diseases, a section of the journal Frontiers in Microbiology

†These authors have contributed equally to this work.

Disclaimer

All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

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