Detection and molecular characterization of Giardia spp. in captive Psittaciformes in Brazil

Prev Vet Med. 2019 Mar 1:164:10-12. doi: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2019.01.006. Epub 2019 Jan 15.

Abstract

This study aimed to perform the detection and molecular characterization of Giardia spp. in Psittaciformes from the Southern and Southeastern regions of Brazil. Fecal samples were obtained from 359 adult exotic captive Psittaciformes belonging to 13 genera, randomly selected from 33 aviaries located in the Southern and Southeastern regions of Brazil during a bird exhibition at the 2015 Ornithological Championship of the Ornithological Federation of Brazil (FOB). Nested polymerase chain reaction targeting the small subunit rRNA gene identified Giardia spp. in 93/359 (25.9%) fecal samples and 25/33 (75.8%) aviaries. Genetic sequencing identified G. psittaci in 12 birds from six genera. Zoonotic Giardia species was not detected in fecal samples from Psittaciformes.

Keywords: Brazil; Giardiasis; Molecular diagnosis; Psittaciformes.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bird Diseases / epidemiology
  • Bird Diseases / parasitology*
  • Brazil / epidemiology
  • DNA, Protozoan / genetics
  • Feces / parasitology
  • Giardia / genetics
  • Giardia / isolation & purification
  • Giardiasis / epidemiology
  • Giardiasis / parasitology
  • Giardiasis / veterinary*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary
  • Psittaciformes / parasitology*
  • RNA, Ribosomal / genetics

Substances

  • DNA, Protozoan
  • RNA, Ribosomal