Molecular identification of Giardia duodenalis isolates from dogs in Moscow (Russia)
https://doi.org/10.31016/1998-8435-2026-20-1-73-81
Abstract
The purpose of the research is to genetically characterize Giardia duodenalis isolates from dogs in the city of Moscow (Russia).
Materials and methods. A total of 423 fecal samples from dogs were investigated for G. duodenalis cysts in 2025. Twentyfive isolates were detected, 19 of which were characterized. Genetic analysis was performed based on the β-giardin locus which is 569–581 base pairs long. The obtained sequences were compared with reference sequences in the GenBank database.
Results and discussion. In the present study, for the first time, genotyping of G. duodenalis isolates obtained from domestic dogs in Moscow (Russia) was carried out. Assemblage C was identified in 15.8% of dogs (n = 3/19), assemblage D in 68.4% of dogs (n = 13/19) and three isolates were found to be mixed C and D in 15.8% (n = 3/19). The study revealed the presence of dog-specific assemblages of G. duodenalis that are not zoonotic. However, it is possible that dogs may have other Giardia assemblages, so further studies with a larger number of isolates are needed.
About the Authors
O. P. KurnosovaRussian Federation
Kurnosova Olga P., Ph. D., Senior Researcher, Laboratory of Parasitic Zoonoses
Researcher ID: U-9779-2018
Scopus ID: 23473657000
Moscow
V. S. Zaitsev
Russian Federation
Zaitsev Valery S., Ph. D. Associate Professor
Ivanovo
Moscow
O. A. Panova
Russian Federation
Panova Olga A., Ph. D., Head of the Laboratory of Biology and Biological Foundations of Prevention
Researcher ID: I-6971-2018
Scopus ID: 57189098000
Moscow
M. V. Arisov
Russian Federation
Arisov Michael V., Doctor of Veterinary Sciences, Professor of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Head of the Laboratory of Ectoparasitosis, Director of the VNIIP – FSC VIEV
Researcher ID: B-7834-2018
Scopus ID: 57207942094.
Moscow
References
1. Abdelaziz A. R., Sorour S. S. G. Prevalence and Molecular Characterization of Giardia duodenalis Assemblage D of Dogs in Egypt, and Its Zoonotic Implication. Microbes, Infection and Chemotherapy. 2021; 1: 1–6. https://doi.org/10.54034/mic.e1268
2. Agresti F., Berrilli M., Maestrini I., Guadano Procesi E., Loretti N., Perrucci V. Prevalence, Risk Factors and Genotypes of Giardia duodenalis in Sheltered Dogs in Tuscany (Central Italy). Pathogens. 2021; 11 (1): 12. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens11010012
3. Ahmad A. A., El-Kady A. M., Hassan T. M. Genotyping of Giardia duodenalis in children in upper Egypt using assemblage-specific PCR technique. PLoS One. 2020; 15 (10): e0240119. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0240119
4. Bahramdoost Z., Mirjalali H., Yavari P., Haghighi A. Development of HRM real-time PCR for assemblage characterization of Giardia lamblia. Acta Tropica. 2021; 224: 106109. https://doi:10.1016/j.actatropica.2021.106109
5. Barbosa A. D., Egan S., Feng Y., Xiao, L., Ryan U. Cryptosporidium and Giardia in cats and dogs: What is the real zoonotic risk? Current Research in Parasitology & Vector-Borne Diseases. 2023; 30 (4): 100158. https://doi:10.1016/j.crpvbd.2023.100158
6. Cai W., Ryan U., Xiao L., Feng Y. Zoonotic giardiasis: an update. Parasitology Research. 2021; 120 (12): 4199–4218. https://doi:10.1007/s00436-021-07325-2
7. Dixon B. R. Giardia duodenalis in humans and animals – Transmission and disease. Research in Veterinary Science. 2021; 135: 283–289. https://doi:10.1016/j.rvsc.2020.09.034
8. Egan S., Barbosa A. D., Feng Y., Xiao L., Ryan U. The risk of wild birds contaminating source water with zoonotic Cryptosporidium and Giardia is probably overestimated. Science of the Total Environment. 2024; 20 (912): 169032. https://doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169032
9. Esmailzadeh R., Malekifard F., Rakhshanpour A. Tavassoli M. Frequency and genotyping of Giardia duodenalis in dogs of Urmia, northwest of Iran. Veterinary Research Forum. 2023; 14 (6): 335–340. https://doi.org/10.30466/vrf.2022.545726.3336
10. Feng Y., Xiao L. Zoonotic Potential and Molecular Epidemiology of Giardia Species and Giardiasis. Clinical Microbiology Reviews. 2011; 24 (1): 110–140. https://doi.org/10.1128/CMR.00033-10
11. Gultekin M., Ural K., Aysul N., Ayan A., Balikci C., Akyildiz G. Prevalence and molecular characterization of Giardia duodenalis in dogs in Aydin, Turkey. International Journal of Environmental Health Research. 2017; 27 (3): 161–168. https://doi.org/10.1080/09603123.2017.1310187
12. Hernandez P. C., de la Pava L. M., Chaparro-Olaya J., Lopez-Osorio S., Lopez-Arias A., Chaparro-Gutierrez J. J. Multilocus genotyping of Giardia intestinalis in pet dogs of Medellin Colombia. Veterinary Parasitology: Regional Studies and Reports. 2021; 23: 100520. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vprsr.2020.100520
13. Horton B., Bridle H., Alexander C. L., Katzer F. Giardia duodenalis in the UK: current knowledge of risk factors and public health implications. Parasitology. 2019; 146 (4): 413–424. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0031182018001683
14. Idan S. R., Al-Hasnawy M. H. Microscopic and molecular diagnoses of Giardia duodenalis in pet animals in Babylon Province, Iraq. Veterinary World. 2023; 16 (11): 2263–2270. https://doi.org/10.14202/vetworld.2023.2263-2270
15. Jothikumar N., Murphy J. L., Hill V. R. Detection and identification of Giardia species using real-time PCR and sequencing. Journal of Microbiological Methods. 2021; 189: 106279. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mimet.2021.106279
16. Konyaev S. V., Prilepsky Yu. O. Fauna of endoparasites of cats and dogs in the regions of Russia. Modern Veterinary Medicine. 2022; 2: 26–31 (in Russ.)
17. Krumrie S., Capewell P., McDonald M., Dunbar D., Panarese R., Katzer F., Sakka N. E., Mellor D., Alexander C. L., Weir W. Molecular characterization of Giardia duodenalis from human and companion animal sources in the United Kingdom using an improved triosephosphate isomerase molecular marker. Current research in parasitology and vectorborne diseases. 2022; 26 (2): 100105. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crpvbd.2022.100105
18. Kumar S., Stecher G., Tamura K. MEGA7: Molecular evolutionary genetics analysis version 7.0 for bigger datasets. Molecular Biology and Evolution. 2016; 33: 1870–1874. https://doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msw054
19. Kurnosova O.P., Panova O. A., Arisov M. V. The prevalence of potentially zoonotic intestinal parasites in dogs and cats in Moscow, Russia. Helminthologia. 2023; 60 (1): 44-51. https://doi.org/10.2478/helm-2023-0009
20. Kurnosova O. P., Panova O. A., Arisov М. V. Prevalence of Giardia duodenalis in dogs and cats: Agerelated predisposition, symptomatic, and asymptomatic cyst shedding. Veterinary World. 2024; 17 (2): 379-383. https://doi.org/10.14202/vetworld.2024.379-383
21. Kurnosova O. P., Panova O. A. Species composition and age dynamics of the spread of intestinal protozoa in domestic dogs and cats in the city of Moscow. Russian Journal of Parasitology. 2025; 19 (1): 34–48. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.31016/1998-8435-2025-19-1-34-48
22. Kuthyar S., Kowalewski M. M., Seabolt M. H, Roellig D. M., Gillespie T. R. Molecular characterization of Giardia duodenalis and evidence for cross-species transmission in Northern Argentina. Transboundary and Emerging Diseases. 2022; 69 (4): 2209–2218. https://doi.org/10.1111/tbed.14220
23. Li J., Dan X., Zhu K., Li N., Guo Y., Zheng Z., Feng Y., Xiao, L. Genetic characterization of Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia duodenalis in dogs and cats in Guangdong, China. Parasites and vectors. 2019; 12 (1): 571. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-019-3822-z
24. Liao S., Lin X., Sun Y., Qi N., Lv M ., Wu C., Li J., Hu J., Yu L., Cai H., Xiao W., Sun M., Li G. Occurrence and genotypes of Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia duodenalis, and Blastocystis sp. in household, shelter, breeding, and pet market dogs in Guangzhou, southern China. Scientific Reports. 2020; 10 (1): 17736. https://doi:10.1038/s41598-020-74299-z
25. Maloney J. G., Molokin A., Santin M. Assessment of next generation amplicon sequencing of the beta-giardin gene for the detection of Giardia duodenalis assemblages and mixed infections. Food and Waterborne Parasitology. 2020; 17 (21): e00098. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fawpar.2020.e00098
26. Mateo M., Montoya A., Bailo B., Köste P. C., Dashti A., Hernandez-Castro C., Saugar J. M., Matas P., Xiao L., Carmena D. Prevalence and public health relevance of enteric parasites in domestic dogs and cats in the region of Madrid (Spain) with an emphasis on Giardia duodenalis and Cryptosporidium sp. Veterinary Medicine and Science. 2023; 9 (6): 2542–2558. https://doi.org/10.1002/vms3.1270
27. Murnik L. C., Daugschies A., Delling C. Gastrointestinal parasites in young dogs and risk factors associated with infection. Parasitology Research. 2023; 122 (2): 585-596. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-022-07760-9
28. On the state of sanitary and epidemiological wellbeing of the population in the Russian Federation in 2023: State report. Moscow. 2024: 249. https://www.rospotrebnadzor.ru/upload/iblock/fbc/sd3prfszlc9c2r4xbmsb7o3us38nrvpk. Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human (in Russ.)
29. Osmari V., Alves M.E.M., Rodrigues F.S. Occurrence and molecular characterization of Giardia duodenalis from naturally infected dogs in the municipality of Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Pesquisa Veterinaria Brasileira. 2021; 41: 06670. https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-5150-PVB-6670
30. Pereira A., Teixeira J., Sousa S., Parreira R., Campino L., Meireles J., Maia C. Giardia duodenalis infection in dogs from the metropolitan area of Lisbon, Portugal: prevalence, genotyping and associated risk factors. The Journal of Parasitic Diseases. 2021; 45 (2): 372–379. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12639-020-01307-4
31. Piekarska J., Bajzert J., Gorczykowski M., Kantyka M., Podkowik M. Molecular identification of Giardia duodenalis isolates from domestic dogs and cats in Wroclaw, Poland. Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine. 2016; 23 (3): 410–415. https://doi.org/10.5604/12321966.1219178
32. Piekara-Stępińska A., Piekarska J., Gorczykowski M., Bania J. Genotypes of Giardia duodenalis in Household Dogs and Cats from Poland. Acta Parasitologica. 2021; 66 (2): 428-435. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11686-020-00292-1
33. Read C. M., Monis P. T., Thompson R. C. Discrimination of all genotypes of Giardia duodenalis at the glutamate dehydrogenase locus using PCRRFLP. Infection, Genetics and Evolution. 2004; 4 (2): 125–30. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meegid.2004.02.001
34. Ryan U., Caccio S.M. Zoonotic potential of Giardia. International Journal for Parasitology. 2013; 43 (12-13): 943–956. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpara.2013.06.001
35. Ryan U., Zahedi A. Molecular epidemiology of giardiasis from a veterinary perspective. Advances in Parasitology. 2019; 106: 209–254. https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.apar.2019.07.002
36. Sotiriadou I., Pantchev N., Gassmann D., Karanis P. Molecular identification of Giardia and Cryptosporidium from dogs and cats. Parasite. 2013; 20 (8). https://doi.org/10.1051/parasite/2013008
37. Stepanova T. F., Stepanova K. B., Bakshtanovskaya I. V., Shepotkova A. A. The current situation on parasitic disease in the Russian Federation: global challenges and ways to solve. Medical parasitology and parasitic diseases. 2023; 3: 3–13 (in Russ.)
38. Sui Y., Zhang X., Wang H., Yu F., Zheng L., Guo Y., Lu Y., Chen M., Wang B., Dai H., Liu F., Li J., Dong H., Tong C., Zhang L. Prevalence and genetic diversity of Giardia duodenalis in pet dogs from Zhengzhou, central China and the association between gut microbiota and fecal characteristics during infection. One Health. 2022; 14: 100401. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.onehlt.2022.100401
39. Tangtrongsup S., Scorza A. V., Reif J. S., Ballweber L. R., Lappin M. R., Salman M. D. Seasonal distributions and other risk factors for Giardia duodenalis and Cryptosporidium spp. infections in dogs and cats in Chiang Mai. Thailand. Preventive Veterinary Medicine. 2020; 174: 104820. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2019.104820
40. Thompson R. C., Palmer C. S., O’Handley R. The public health and clinical significance of Giardia and Cryptosporidium in domestic animals. The Veterinary Journal. 2008; 177 (1): 18–25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2007.09.022
41. Traub R. J, Inpankaew T., Reid S. A., Sutthikornchai C., Sukthana Y., Robertson I. D. Transmission cycles of Giardia duodenalis in dogs and humans in Temple communities in Bangkok-A critical evaluation of its prevalence using three diagnostic tests in the field in the absence of a gold standard. Acta Tropica. 2009; 111: 125–32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actatropica
42. Trevisan Y. P. A., Ferreira de Almeida A. D. B. P., Nakazato L., Pacheco T. D. A., de Souza J. I., Canei D. H., Pereira M. E., Maia M. O., Pacheco R. C., Sousa V. E. R. F. Frequency of Giardia duodenalis infection and its genetic variability in dogs in Cuiabá, Midwest Brazil. Journal of Infection in Developing Countries. 2020; 14 (12): 1431-1436. https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.13095
43. Tseng Y. C, Ho G. D., Chen T. W., Huang B. F., Cheng P. C., Chen J. L., Peng S. Y. Prevalence and genotype of Giardia duodenalis from faecal samples of stray dogs in Hualien city of eastern Taiwan. Tropical Biomedicine. 2014; 31 (2): 305–11.
44. Uiterwijk M., Mughini-Gras L., Nijsse R., Wagenaar J., Ploeger H., Kooyman F. Giardia duodenalis multilocus genotypes in dogs with different levels of synanthropism and clinical signs. Parasites & Vectors. 2020; 13 (1): 605. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-020-04496
45. Vasilopulos R. J., Rickard L. G., Mackin A. J., Todd Pharr G., Huston C. L. Genotypic analysis of Giardia duodenalis in domestic cats. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine. 2007; 2: 352–355. https://doi.org/10.1892/0891-6640(2007)21[352:gaogdi]2.0.co;2
46. Zhang X., Jian Y., Ma Y., Li Z., Fu Y., Cairang Z., Wang X., Duo H., Guo Z. Prevalence of Intestinal Parasites in Dog Faecal Samples from Public Environments in Qinghai Province, China. Pathogens. 2022; 11 (11): 1240. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens11111240
47. Zajac A.M., Conboy G.A. Veterinary Clinical Parasitology. 8th ed. Wiley-Blackwel Chichster, Hoboken, 2012; 368
Review
For citations:
Kurnosova O.P., Zaitsev V.S., Panova O.A., Arisov M.V. Molecular identification of Giardia duodenalis isolates from dogs in Moscow (Russia). Russian Journal of Parasitology. 2026;20(1):73-81. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.31016/1998-8435-2026-20-1-73-81
JATS XML




































