Genetic identification of Giardia lamblia in children for Tikrit city, Iraq

Giardia lamblia, also known as (Giardia duodenalis or Giardia intestinalis) is the causative agent of giardiasis, and it is the most common parasitic diarrheal disease that affects humans and more than 40 species of other mammals. The study recorded (17) positive cases of Giardia infection out of a total of (47) samples diagnosed microscopically for pediatric patients arriving at Tikrit General Hospital from nearby areas. The results showed that the percentage of positive cases of infection with the Giardia parasite amounted to (36.2%) for PCR, as significant differences appeared when compared with the microscopic examination ( P value< 0.05). Also, the rates of infection with the parasite varied between males and females, and the percentage of infection in males reached (53.2%), while the percentage of infection in females was (43.14%); the results showed the relationship between infection and Giardia by age groups less than one year, where the percentage amounted to 44.6%, followed by the age group 1-2 years, the percentage reached 31.9%, and the lowest percentage was in the age group 3- 4 years 10.6%.PCR technique diagnosed the specific region within the DNA of the parasite Giardia using special primers for the encoded gene (for Giardia2029/Gia2150c) and (for Giardia). Also, it was sequenced and aligned. The isolate in the current study was 100% similar to the globally recorded isolate. In conclusion, the methods of detection of Giardia showed differences in positive results for this parasite. In addition, there are more infections in males than in females aged less than one year more infected than in other ages. Keywords: Giardia lamblia, Giardia2029/Gia2150c, Giardia gene