Molecular identification of Giradia intestinalis in human and cats in Dohuk city, Kurdistan Region-Iraq

Abstract

The goal of the study to determine the prevalence of Giardia infection in 200 samples (100 at breeders’ stool and 100 cats faecal samples) that were collected between the beginning of January 2024 until end of April 2024, from different reigns of Dohuk City, Iraq. For the purpose of confirming the presence of Giaria intestinlis parasite, both conventional and molecular diagnosis were used. The results of microscopic examination showed that the infection rate in humans was 45/100 (45%), showed higher rate of infection in females (45.45. %) compared to males (44.44%). The rate infection between age groups, with a rate (46%) at 5-10 years old and (44%) at 11–20-year-old. The microscopically results showed the rate of infection at G.intestinalis in cats was55/100 (55%). Showed a significant difference between sexes, and the infection rate was higher in males was 70% compared to females was 40%. The Prevalence of G.intestinalis related to age was (72%) and(38%) in Kittens and adult age groups respectively . In this study, PCR assays with primer specific 18 S r RNA have been applied for the detection of Giardia isolates in cats breeders’ stool and cats faecal. After being sequenced, ten positive PCR results were contributed to the Genebank database. Phytogenic analysis revealed that five of the PCR results (PP486374.1, PP486375.1, PP486376.1, PP486377.1, PP486378.1) were associated with isolates of G. intestinalis from humans, while the remaining isolates (PP486379.1, PP486380.1, PP486381.1, PP486382.1, PP486383.1) were associated with isolates of G. intestinalis from cats. In conclusion: The molecular study found a 97.68% relationship between Giardia intestinalis isolates from humans (PP486376.1, PP486378.1) and cats (PP486379.1, PP486380.1), as per the phylogenetic tree.