Genetic Identification of Parasitic <i>Giardia enterica</i> in Three Wild Rodent Species from a Zoological Institution: First Host Records in Brazilian Porcupine (<i>Coendou prehensilis</i>) and Naked Mole Rat (<i>Heterocephalus glaber</i>), and Detection in Crested Porcupine (<i>Hystrix cristata</i>)
Flagellates of the genus <i>Giardia</i> are intestinal parasites with a broad host range. Several <i>Giardia duodenalis</i> variants (assemblages) recently elevated to species rank—<i>G. duodenalis</i> (assemblage A1), <i>G. intestinalis</i> (A2) and &...
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2025-05-01
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| author | Lorena Esteban-Sánchez Marta Mateo-Barrientos Manuel de la Riva-Fraga Lino Pérez de Quadros Juan José García Rodríguez Francisco Ponce-Gordo |
| author_facet | Lorena Esteban-Sánchez Marta Mateo-Barrientos Manuel de la Riva-Fraga Lino Pérez de Quadros Juan José García Rodríguez Francisco Ponce-Gordo |
| author_sort | Lorena Esteban-Sánchez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Flagellates of the genus <i>Giardia</i> are intestinal parasites with a broad host range. Several <i>Giardia duodenalis</i> variants (assemblages) recently elevated to species rank—<i>G. duodenalis</i> (assemblage A1), <i>G. intestinalis</i> (A2) and <i>Giardia enterica</i> (B) are human pathogens. <i>Giardia enterica</i> has been reported in some hystricomorph rodents such as wild crested porcupines (<i>Hystrix cristata</i>), but no data were previously available from Brazilian porcupines (<i>Coendou prehensilis</i>) and naked mole rats (<i>Heterocephalus glaber</i>). The aim of this study is to genetically identify the <i>Giardia</i> isolates from these three rodent species, all housed in a zoological institution. Fecal samples were processed using the Bailenger concentration method, and DNA was extracted from the sediments using commercial kits. Partial PCR amplification and sequencing of the glutamate dehydrogenase, beta-giardin, and triose-phosphate isomerase genes revealed that all isolates belonged to <i>G. enterica</i>, showing 99–100% identity with sequences available in GenBank. Prevalences could not be reliably estimated due to small group sizes and the resulting proportions may be biased. To our knowledge, this is the first report identifying <i>Giardia</i> (<i>G. enterica</i>) in <i>C. prehensilis</i> and <i>H. glaber</i>, thus expanding the known host range of this parasite species and reinforcing the importance of surveillance in captive wild hosts. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Matheson Library |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens |
| spelling | doaj-art-81c2bc6f95cb4dc58372c77c0de9d9f02025-06-25T14:04:00ZengMDPI AGJournal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens2673-56362025-05-01622810.3390/jzbg6020028Genetic Identification of Parasitic <i>Giardia enterica</i> in Three Wild Rodent Species from a Zoological Institution: First Host Records in Brazilian Porcupine (<i>Coendou prehensilis</i>) and Naked Mole Rat (<i>Heterocephalus glaber</i>), and Detection in Crested Porcupine (<i>Hystrix cristata</i>)Lorena Esteban-Sánchez0Marta Mateo-Barrientos1Manuel de la Riva-Fraga2Lino Pérez de Quadros3Juan José García Rodríguez4Francisco Ponce-Gordo5Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Complutense University, Plaza Ramón y Cajal s/n, 28040 Madrid, SpainDepartment of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Complutense University, Plaza Ramón y Cajal s/n, 28040 Madrid, SpainVeterinary Services, Parque Zoológico Faunia, 28032 Madrid, SpainVeterinary Services, Parque Zoológico Faunia, 28032 Madrid, SpainDepartment of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Complutense University, Plaza Ramón y Cajal s/n, 28040 Madrid, SpainDepartment of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Complutense University, Plaza Ramón y Cajal s/n, 28040 Madrid, SpainFlagellates of the genus <i>Giardia</i> are intestinal parasites with a broad host range. Several <i>Giardia duodenalis</i> variants (assemblages) recently elevated to species rank—<i>G. duodenalis</i> (assemblage A1), <i>G. intestinalis</i> (A2) and <i>Giardia enterica</i> (B) are human pathogens. <i>Giardia enterica</i> has been reported in some hystricomorph rodents such as wild crested porcupines (<i>Hystrix cristata</i>), but no data were previously available from Brazilian porcupines (<i>Coendou prehensilis</i>) and naked mole rats (<i>Heterocephalus glaber</i>). The aim of this study is to genetically identify the <i>Giardia</i> isolates from these three rodent species, all housed in a zoological institution. Fecal samples were processed using the Bailenger concentration method, and DNA was extracted from the sediments using commercial kits. Partial PCR amplification and sequencing of the glutamate dehydrogenase, beta-giardin, and triose-phosphate isomerase genes revealed that all isolates belonged to <i>G. enterica</i>, showing 99–100% identity with sequences available in GenBank. Prevalences could not be reliably estimated due to small group sizes and the resulting proportions may be biased. To our knowledge, this is the first report identifying <i>Giardia</i> (<i>G. enterica</i>) in <i>C. prehensilis</i> and <i>H. glaber</i>, thus expanding the known host range of this parasite species and reinforcing the importance of surveillance in captive wild hosts.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-5636/6/2/28rodents<i>Coendou prehensilis</i><i>Hystrix cristata</i><i>Hetercephalus glaber</i><i>Giardia enterica</i>glutamate dehydrogenase |
| spellingShingle | Lorena Esteban-Sánchez Marta Mateo-Barrientos Manuel de la Riva-Fraga Lino Pérez de Quadros Juan José García Rodríguez Francisco Ponce-Gordo Genetic Identification of Parasitic <i>Giardia enterica</i> in Three Wild Rodent Species from a Zoological Institution: First Host Records in Brazilian Porcupine (<i>Coendou prehensilis</i>) and Naked Mole Rat (<i>Heterocephalus glaber</i>), and Detection in Crested Porcupine (<i>Hystrix cristata</i>) Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens rodents <i>Coendou prehensilis</i> <i>Hystrix cristata</i> <i>Hetercephalus glaber</i> <i>Giardia enterica</i> glutamate dehydrogenase |
| title | Genetic Identification of Parasitic <i>Giardia enterica</i> in Three Wild Rodent Species from a Zoological Institution: First Host Records in Brazilian Porcupine (<i>Coendou prehensilis</i>) and Naked Mole Rat (<i>Heterocephalus glaber</i>), and Detection in Crested Porcupine (<i>Hystrix cristata</i>) |
| title_full | Genetic Identification of Parasitic <i>Giardia enterica</i> in Three Wild Rodent Species from a Zoological Institution: First Host Records in Brazilian Porcupine (<i>Coendou prehensilis</i>) and Naked Mole Rat (<i>Heterocephalus glaber</i>), and Detection in Crested Porcupine (<i>Hystrix cristata</i>) |
| title_fullStr | Genetic Identification of Parasitic <i>Giardia enterica</i> in Three Wild Rodent Species from a Zoological Institution: First Host Records in Brazilian Porcupine (<i>Coendou prehensilis</i>) and Naked Mole Rat (<i>Heterocephalus glaber</i>), and Detection in Crested Porcupine (<i>Hystrix cristata</i>) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Genetic Identification of Parasitic <i>Giardia enterica</i> in Three Wild Rodent Species from a Zoological Institution: First Host Records in Brazilian Porcupine (<i>Coendou prehensilis</i>) and Naked Mole Rat (<i>Heterocephalus glaber</i>), and Detection in Crested Porcupine (<i>Hystrix cristata</i>) |
| title_short | Genetic Identification of Parasitic <i>Giardia enterica</i> in Three Wild Rodent Species from a Zoological Institution: First Host Records in Brazilian Porcupine (<i>Coendou prehensilis</i>) and Naked Mole Rat (<i>Heterocephalus glaber</i>), and Detection in Crested Porcupine (<i>Hystrix cristata</i>) |
| title_sort | genetic identification of parasitic i giardia enterica i in three wild rodent species from a zoological institution first host records in brazilian porcupine i coendou prehensilis i and naked mole rat i heterocephalus glaber i and detection in crested porcupine i hystrix cristata i |
| topic | rodents <i>Coendou prehensilis</i> <i>Hystrix cristata</i> <i>Hetercephalus glaber</i> <i>Giardia enterica</i> glutamate dehydrogenase |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-5636/6/2/28 |
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