IMPACT OF RISK FACTORS ON THE EPIDEMIOLOGICAL PREVALENCE OF GIARDIA LAMBLIA ASSEMBLAGES IN KAFRELSHEIKH GOVERNORATE, CAIRO, EGYPT

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University1, and Faculty of Medicine, Modern University for Technology and Information2, Egypt

2 Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Kafrelsheikh University, Egypt

Abstract

Although the incidence of Giardia lamblia increased, data regarding its possible associated
risk factors are scares. The study investigated the genetic diversity of humans G. lamblia positive
isolates in kafrelsheikh Governorate, and the impact of multiple risk factors on prevalence.
A total of 300 fecal samples were collected from patients attended Kafrelsheikh University
over a period of one year. Amplification and RFLP analysis of β-giardin gene were used
to identify the G. lamblia multiple assemblages.
The results showed that, PCR amplification showed 63/300 (21%) positive samples, of them,
12 assemblages A (19.1%) and 52 assemblages B (80.9%). On univariate analysis, there were
statistical significant correlation among giardiasis and age group, sex, hand-washing, milk
type, flatulence, vomiting, and animal contact (p = 0.028, 0.006, 0.005, 0.02, 0.000, 0.002 &
0.000, respectively). On Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that children from 2-
6 years, adults (< 18 years), females, hand-washing, boiled milk, vomiting, flatulence and animal
contact were independent risk factors for giardiasis (p = 0.01, 0.02, 0.007, 0.05, 0.03,
0.000, 0.002 & 0.000, respectively).

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