| dc.description.abstract | Since the number of pet animals has increased worldwide in the last decades, and the
diagnostic tools in veterinary parasitology also developed – ensuring access to more
information on parasites –, the aim of the present study was to reveal the presence of different
protozoa of various companion animals, and to examine their genetic diversity depending on
the possible ways of their transmission. Therefore, altogether 1039 samples were collected
from companion animals and examined for the presence of unicellular parasites with traditional
parasitological methods and molecular biological methods including phylogenetic analysis.
First, 164 samples were collected from five rodent species and rabbits in five locations
in Hungary, to examine the presence of G. duodenalis. Parasitological analysis revealed the
presence of cysts in 58.3% of asymptomatic Norway rats and 27.6% of chinchillas. Three
degus were also found Giardia-infected (prevalence: 16.7%) using flotation technique. With
PCR targeting three genetic markers, 3.2% of the samples showed positivity, whereas a rate
of 21.9% prevalence was detected with flotation. The PCR products of five samples could be
DNA sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis based on the partial sequences of the beta-giardin
gene revealed the presence of assemblages B and G in rats. In addition, assemblage E was
detected in a beaver, while assemblage B was present in a chinchilla. The results show that
synanthropic rodent species have different epidemiological roles in the study region,
depending on the prevalence of shedding Giardia cysts or harboring zoonotic variants of G.
duodenalis. Moreover, our findings confirm that pet rodents may pose a risk for zoonotic
Giardia-transmission. | en_US |
