A large scale molecular study of Giardia duodenalis in horses from Colombia

The prevalence of Giardia duodenalis assemblages in horses is poorly known. The present study examined feces from 195 horses, 1 month-17 years of age, in 4 locations in Colombia. Prevalence of infection was determined by PCR and all positives were sequenced to determine the genotypes. Thirty four (17.4%) horses were found positive. This is the first report of G. duodenalis in horses from Colombia. Prevalence in female and male horses was 18.9% and 15.1%, respectively. Prevalence in horses <1 year of age and horses >1 year of age was 21.1% and 15.1%, respectively. Molecular characterization using the beta giardin (bg), glutamate dehydrogenase (gdh), triose phosphate isomerase (tpi), and small subunit ribosomal RNA (ssurRNA) genes identified G. duodenalis Assemblages A and B, the assemblages regarded as zoonotic.