Detection of Giardia intestinalis assemblages A and B among children from three villages in the West Delta region, Egypt using assemblage specific primers.

Giardia intestinalis is a common diarrheagenic parasite infecting children globally. It has been classified into eight morphologically identical but genetically distinct genotypes. Human infection is mainly associated with A and B assemblages with variable geographical distribution. The present work aimed to study the epidemiology of assemblages A and B in children inhabiting different areas in Lower Egypt. Stool samples were collected from 315 children and examined microscopically for parasitic infections. Giardia positive samples were genotyped using tpi assemblage specific primers. The prevalence of Giardia was 18.1% among the examined children. Mixed assemblages A and B was more common (47.4%) than single assemblage B (36.8%) or A (15.8%). The distribution of different genotypes was significantly associated with the residence area, animal contact, and handwashing habits. A non-significant association was observed between Giardia assemblages and the clinical manifestations. Assemblage B is the predominant genotype among Egyptian children. The distribution of different Giardia assemblages is strongly associated with the studied area and the habits of its people.