Giardia intestinalis is divided into different groups based on rRNA sequences, although grouping and taxonomy is changing rapidly from year to year.
Although human isolates of Giardia belong to assemblage A and B, but these assemblage of G.duodenalis have also been found in some domestic and wild animals such as cattle,dog and cat so it present a risk of zoonosis.
Please find more data at:
Vet Parasitol 2007:150(1-2):33-38
Vet parasitol 2004: 126:15-35
Iranian J Publ Health 2006:35(3):77-80
Dogs can be infected with G. duodenalis genotypes from assemblage A and B (zoonotic genotypes) and/or canid-specific assemblages C and D. Additionally, mixed infections with Giardia A-D genotypes in dogs have been documented. Also, cats can be infected with Giardia genotypes from zoonotic assemblage A and B and /or cat-specific assemblage F. Some authors have also identified assemblage D in cats. therefore, in view of public health and control of canine and feline giardiasis, identification of Giardia genotypes occurring in dogs and cats is important.
See:
Sprong et al., PLoS Negl. Trop. Dis., 3, e558, 2009
Ryan and Caccio, Int. J. Parasitol., 43, 943-956, 2013
There are 8 genetic groups of G. duodenalis from (A-H). Only assemblages A (subtypes I and II) and B (subtypes I and IV) are associated with human infections, but are also found in a number of other mammalian hosts.
See : Vanni I, Cacciò SM, van Lith L, Lebbad M, Svärd SG, Pozio E, Tosini F. Detection of Giardia duodenalis assemblages A and B in human feces by simple, assemblage-specific PCR assays. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2012;6:e1776
There are many great answers here from Anna C. Majewska and others. There are still many uncertainties about the degree of zoonotic potential that occurs across Giardia associated with both companion animals (cats and dogs) as well as domestic livestock. As long as uncertainty and variability exist, it is still very important to develop and maintain broad-scale monitoring programs for Giardia and other potentially zoonotic pathogens across shared environments. The following articles address some such monitoring efforts.
Article Synanthropic Flies as Vectors of Cryptosporidium and Giardia...
Article Human waterborne parasites in zebra mussels (Dreissena polym...
Article Biomonitoring for zoonotic protists in terrestrial and aquat...
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Medicine
- Disease
- Infectious Diseases