5-Nitroimidazole refractory giardiasis is common in Matanzas,Cuba and effectively treated by secnidazole plus high-dose mebendazole or quinacrine: a prospective observational cohort study

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effectiveness and tolerability of secnidazole combined with high-dose mebendazole for treatment of 5-nitroimidazole-resistant giardiasis.MethodAdults with microscopically verified Giardia intestinalis monoinfection attending a secondary level hospital in Matanzas City, Cuba were prospectively included in a cohort. A recently introduced treatment ladder consisting of metronidazole as first-line treatment, followed by secnidazole, tinidazole, secnidazole plus mebendazole and quinacrine as second-to fifth-line treatments, respectively, was used. Adverse events and treatment success were determined by questioning and microscopy on concentrated stool samples, respectively on days 3, 5 and 7 after the end of treatment. If G. intestinalis was detected on day 3, 5 or 7, then the infection was classified as refractory and no further microscopy was performed.ResultsA total of 456 individuals were included. Metronidazole, 500 mg three times daily for 5 days, cured 248/456 (54%) patients. A single 2-g secnidazole dose as second-line treatment cured 50/208 (24%) patients. A single 2-g tinidazole dose as third-line treatment cured 43/158 (27%) patients. Three rounds of 5-nitroimidazole therapy therefore cured 341/456 (75%) patients. Secnidazole plus mebendazole (200 mg every 8 hours for 3 days) cured 100/115 (87%) of nitroimidazole refractory infections. Quinacrine cured the remaining 15 patients. All treatments were well tolerated.Conclusions5-Nitroimidazole refractory giardiasis was common, indicating that an alternative first-line treatment may be needed. Retreatment of metronidazole refractory giardiasis with an alternative 5-nitroimidazole was suboptimal, indicating cross-resistance. Mebendazole plus secnidazole were well tolerated and effective for the treatment of 5-nitroimidazole refractory G. intestinalis infection in this setting.     

Evaluation of the Roche LightMix Gastro parasites multiplex PCR assay detecting Giardia duodenalis,Entamoeba histolytica,cryptosporidia, Dientamoeba fragilis,and Blastocystis hominis

ObjectivesMultiplex PCR assays offer highly sensitive and specific tools for the detection of enteric pathogens. This prospective study aimed at comparing the novel Roche LightMix Modular Assay Gastro Parasites (LMAGP) detecting Giardia duodenalis, Entamoeba histolytica, Cryptosporidium spp., Blastocystis hominis, and Dientamoeba fragilis with routine laboratory procedures.MethodsStool specimens (n = 1062 from 1009 patients) were consecutively examined by LMAGP, R-Biopharm Ridascreen enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) detecting G. duodenalis or E. histolytica/dispar, and microscopy of wet mounts. Discrepant results were analysed by in-house PCR.ResultsD. fragilis or B. hominis were detected by LMAGP in 131 (14.4%) and 179 (19.9%; 16 samples positive by microscopy; p < 0.0001) of 909 samples, respectively. Of 918 samples analysed for Cryptosporidium spp., six were positive by LMAGP (three could be confirmed by Kinyoun staining and one by in-house PCR). G. duodenalis was detected by LMAGP, EIA, or microscopy in 20, 16, or 9 of 1039 stool samples, respectively; all four samples missed by EIA were confirmed by in-house PCR. In total, 938 stool samples were analysed for E. histolytica/dispar. Nine of ten EIA-positive samples were negative by LMAGP but positive by in-house PCR for E. dispar. One E. histolytica infection (positive by both LMAGP and in-house PCR) was missed by EIA and microscopy. Parasites only detected by microscopy included Enterobius vermicularis eggs (n = 3) and apathogenic amoebae (n = 27).ConclusionsThe data call for routine use of multiplex PCR assays for the detection of enteric protozoan parasites in laboratory diagnostics.     

Refractory giardiasis: A molecular appraisal from a tertiary care centre in India

Purpose: The intestinal flagellate Giardia lamblia includes many genetically distinct assemblages, of which assemblage A and B, predominantly infect humans. Nitroimidazoles derivatives (metronidazole and tinidazole) and nitazoxanide are some of the therapeutic agents for treatment of giardiasis. Nevertheless, some individuals with giardiasis are non-responsive to standard therapy. The present study highlights cases of refractory giardiasis and attempts to elucidate if genetic heterogeneity in the parasite is associated with treatment failure. Materials and Methods: Three stool samples were obtained on three consecutive days from 4000 patients with diarrhoea and were microscopically examined for the detection of trophozoites, and/or cysts, using both normal saline and Lugol’s iodine. A hemi-nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay using triose phosphate isomerase (tpi) as the target gene was performed to determine the assemblages. Sequencing of the PCR products of the patients showing failure to treatment of giardiasis was also performed. Results: Two per cent (82/4000) of the total patients were microscopically positive for Giardia lamblia in the stool samples. All these patients were treated with metronidazole/tinidazole as per the standard regimens. However, eight patients showed treatment failure to giardiasis as stool examinations were repeatedly positive even after treatment with multiple courses of anti-giardial therapy. Genetic characterisation of all eight Giardia isolates showed that they belonged to Assemblage B and had homogeneous sequences. These patients were either treated with extended regimens or with combination therapy of anti-giardials. Conclusion: In our experience, combination of two or more drugs for a longer duration is the treatment modality to treat refractory giardiasis.     

Treatment of Giardiasis after Nonresponse to Nitroimidazole

During January 2008–October 2013, a total of 12 cases of giardiasis at the Chaim Sheba and Shaare Zedek Medical Centers, Israel, did not respond to nitroimidazole; 83.3% were associated with travel and 33% with immunoglobulin deficiency. Among 110 published cases, the most effective treatment was quinacrine (efficacy 90%–100%), but its availability is limited.     

In vitro ANTIGIARDIAL ACTIVITY OF THE CYSTEINE PROTEASE INHIBITOR E-64

The quest for new antiparasitic alternatives has led researchers to base their studies on insights into biology, host-parasite interactions and pathogenesis. In this context, proteases and their inhibitors are focused, respectively, as druggable targets and new therapy alternatives. Herein, we proposed to evaluate the in vitro effect of the cysteine protease inhibitor E-64 on Giardia trophozoites growth, adherence and viability. Trophozoites (10⁵) were exposed to E-64 at different final concentrations, for 24, 48 and 72 h at 37 °C. In the growth and adherence assays, the number of trophozoites was estimated microscopically in a haemocytometer, whereas cell viability was evaluated by a dye-reduction assay using MTT. The E-64 inhibitor showed effect on growth, adherence and viability of trophozoites, however, its better performance was detected in the 100 µM-treated cultures. Although metronidazole was more effective, the E-64 was shown to be able to inhibit growth, adherence and viability rates by ≥ 50%. These results reveal that E-64 can interfere in some crucial processes to the parasite survival and they open perspectives for future investigations in order to confirm the real antigiardial potential of the protease inhibitors.     

蓝氏贾第鞭毛虫α-19贾第素的单克隆抗体制备与亚细胞定位研究

目的 制备蓝氏贾第鞭毛虫(Giardia lamblia,简称贾第虫)α-19贾第素的特异性抗体,并通过免疫荧光对该贾第素的亚细胞定位进行鉴定。方法 经PCR获得α-19贾第素编码区片段,双酶切将目的 片段连入原核表达载体pET-28a(+)-α-19,重组载体转化E.coli Rosetta(DE3),IPTG诱导表达,SDS-PAGE及 Western blot验证表达情况;采用设计的合成抗原肽免疫小鼠经细胞融合和筛选制备特异性单克隆抗体,分别用贾第虫滋养体裂解物和α-19贾第素重组蛋白Western blot验证抗体特异性和结合力,选择特异性最好的单克隆抗体通过免疫荧光技术对α-19贾第素的亚细胞定位进行观察。结果 成功构建了原核表达载体pET-28a(+)-α-19,经SDS-PAGE及 Westernblot分析显示重组载体在大肠杆菌中表达出相对分子量约49 kD的重组蛋白,与理论值相符;Western blot显示单克隆杂交瘤细胞株α-19-3-7-3-5分泌的抗体结合力和特异性俱佳,可用于定位研究;免疫荧光定位结果表明α-19贾第素主要位于贾第虫滋养体的腹鞭毛。结论 制备了α-19贾第素的特异性单克隆抗体,免疫荧光显示α-19贾第素定位于贾第虫滋养体的腹鞭毛。     

重组酶介导的蓝氏贾第鞭毛虫特异性等温核酸扩增方法的建立及评价

目的　建立基于重组酶介导的等温扩增技术（RAA）的蓝氏贾第鞭毛虫核酸检测方法,并评价其检测敏感性和特异性。方法　选择蓝氏贾第鞭毛虫β?贾第素（β?giardin）基因作为检测靶基因,设计、合成特异性检测引物及荧光探针,建立荧光RAA检测体系。分别以不同拷贝数的重组质粒（含β?giardin基因靶序列）和不同浓度蓝氏贾第鞭毛虫基因组DNA为模板进行荧光RAA扩增,评价其检测敏感性;分别以蓝氏贾第鞭毛虫、日本血吸虫、华支睾吸虫、微小隐孢子虫、似蚓蛔线虫、沙门氏菌及志贺氏菌基因组DNA为模板进行扩增,评价其检测特异性。结果　成功建立了蓝氏贾第鞭毛虫荧光RAA检测方法,其可在等温（39 ℃）条件下实现对靶基因片段的快速、特异性扩增（20 min内）。分别以重组质粒和蓝氏贾第鞭毛虫基因组DNA为模板,该方法的检测敏感性可达102拷贝/μL和1 pg/μL;以日本血吸虫、华支睾吸虫、微小隐孢子虫、似蚓蛔线虫、沙门氏菌及志贺氏菌基因组DNA为模板的RAA检测结果均为阴性,具备较好特异性。结论　建立了一种操作简便、敏感、特异的可用于蓝氏贾第鞭毛虫核酸检测的荧光RAA方法。     

临床腹泻患者贾第虫感染和分子特征研究

目的初步了解临床腹泻患者贾第虫的感染情况及分子特征。方法以2014年5-7月上海市某医院临床腹泻患者为研究对象,收集粪便样本95份,进行卢戈氏碘液染色,用光学显微镜检查贾第虫包囊。采用巢式PCR法扩增贾第虫磷酸丙糖异构酶基因(tpi),扩增产物测序后用BLAST、Clustal X 1.83和MEGA6.0软件进行同源性和系统发育分析。结果形态学观察发现1例腹泻患者感染贾第虫,阳性检出率为1.05%。其粪便样本经卢戈氏碘液染色后显微镜下可见清晰的包囊。对样本进行PCR检测,扩增片段大小约为530 bp,测序结果显示为贾第虫。经序列比对分析,并以tpi基因构建系统发育树,分析鉴定该分离株为集聚体B,与已报道的人源贾第虫分离株(KF271445)同源性为100%。结论临床腹泻患者中存在贾第虫感染,本研究结果可为了解贾第虫基因型特点及贾第虫病流行病学研究提供参考。     

Antigenic variation in Giardia lamblia: infection of congenially athymic nude and scid mice

Athymic nude mice of the outbred Zur:ICR-nu and inbred BALB/c strain and scid mice were infected with a cloned human isolate of Giardia lamblia (GS/M-83-H7). Changes in the expression of the major surface epitope of the intestinal trophozoites (characterized by the binding capacity of monoclonal antibody MoAbG10/4) as well as cellular and humoral immune parameters of the hosts were followed during the course of infection. Self-cure was observed in heterozygous (nu/+) BALB/c mice by day 22 post-infection (p.i.) and in heterozygous (nu/+) Zur:ICR-nu strain by day 65 p.i. Homozygous (nu/nu) mice of both strains remained chronically infected until end of the experiments (day 45 p.i. for BALB/c mice and day 122 p.i. for Zur:ICR-nu mice, respectively). Only heterozygous (nu/+) mice were able to mount a gut-associated (Peyer's patch) lymphoproliferative response to G. lamblia antigen. Therefore, T-cell dependent mechanisms were necessary for a self-cure. Antigenic variation occurred in all nu/+ and nu/nu animals of both strains. Trophozoites expressing the major surface epitope (assessed by direct immunofluorescence with FITC-labelled MoAb G10/4) decreased to zero by day 22 p.i. In contrast, the proportion of trophozoites expressing the major surface epitope in infected scid mice remained at the initial level (greater than 99%) until termination of the experiment (day 25 p.i.); therefore, antigenic variation did not occur. All nu/nu and nu/+ mice but not scid mice demonstrated a humoral immune response to G. lamblia antigen. These experiments suggest functional B-cell dependent mechanisms are most likely responsible for the surface antigen switch. Transfer of infection occurred naturally from experimentally infected scid-mice to their mother, proving the initial antigenic surface variant remains unchanged after encystment and subsequent excystment followed by infection in a new host.