Identification of zoonotic Giardia duodenalis in Korean native calves with normal feces

  • Yoon-Joo Lee
  • Du-Gyeong Han
  • Ji-Hyoung Ryu
  • Jeong-Byoung Chae
  • Joon-Seok Chae
  • Do-Hyeon Yu
  • Jinho Park
  • Bae-Keun Park
  • Hyeon-Cheol Kim
  • Kyoung-Seong Choi
Short Communication
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Abstract

Giardia duodenalis is an important zoonotic protozoan parasite that infects humans and other animals. This study was conducted to investigate the prevalence and molecular characterization of G. duodenalis infection in the feces of normal and diarrheic pre-weaned calves aged 1−60 days. Fecal samples were collected from 90 Korean native calves in 7 different regions in the central region of the Republic of Korea (ROK). Of the 90 fecal samples, 9 (10%, 9/90) were positive for G. duodenalis by PCR using the β-giardin gene. Phylogenetic analysis identified G. duodenalis assemblages A and E in the farms examined and G. duodenalis with both assemblage A and E was detected in one farm. Assemblage A was detected in calves with normal feces, while assemblage E was frequently identified in calves with diarrhea. This is the first report of the identification of assemblage A in pre-weaned calves with normal feces in the ROK. These results suggest that G. duodenalis infection is closely associated with calf age and management systems including overcrowding, age-mixed grouping, and hygiene. Thus, giardiasis in calves is an important disease because of its zoonotic significance and should be screened in young animals. Further studies are necessary to elucidate the transmission routes of zoonotic G. duodenalis assemblages.

Keywords

Giardia duodenalis Pre-weaned calves Management system Zoonotic significance 
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Notes

Compliance with ethical standards

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2018

Authors and Affiliations

  • Yoon-Joo Lee
    • 1
  • Du-Gyeong Han
    • 1
  • Ji-Hyoung Ryu
    • 1
  • Jeong-Byoung Chae
    • 2
  • Joon-Seok Chae
    • 2
  • Do-Hyeon Yu
    • 3
  • Jinho Park
    • 4
  • Bae-Keun Park
    • 5
  • Hyeon-Cheol Kim
    • 6
  • Kyoung-Seong Choi
    • 1
  1. 1.Department of Animal Science and Biotechnology, College of Ecology and Environmental ScienceKyungpook National UniversitySangjuRepublic of Korea
  2. 2.Laboratory of Veterinary Internal Medicine, BK21 PLUS Program for Creative Veterinary Science Research, Research Institute for Veterinary Science and College of Veterinary MedicineSeoul National UniversitySeoulRepublic of Korea
  3. 3.Institute of Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary MedicineGyeongsang National UniversityJinjuRepublic of Korea
  4. 4.College of Veterinary MedicineChonbuk National UniversityIksanRepublic of Korea
  5. 5.College of Veterinary MedicineChungnam National UniversityDaejeonRepublic of Korea
  6. 6.College of Veterinary MedicineKangwon National UniversityChuncheonRepublic of Korea

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