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.