Epidemiology of Giardia intestinalis in non-human primates and their caregivers: A study from Czech zoos

TL;DR

This study found a high presence of Giardia intestinalis in zoo primates and their caregivers, highlighting the need for better tools to track its spread between species.

Contribution

The study provides new insights into Giardia transmission dynamics in zoo environments using a One Health approach.

Findings

Giardia was detected in 47% of non-human primates and 30% of caregivers.

Assemblage B was the most common genotype identified.

Low protist load in samples hindered accurate genotyping and transmission analysis.

Abstract

Giardia intestinalis is a globally distributed protist whose epidemiology appears to be more complex than previously assumed. Recent studies suggest that it frequently asymptomatically colonizes the gastrointestinal tract of both humans and animals, yet its transmission dynamics remain poorly understood—particularly in shared environments involving close human–animal contact. Adopting a One Health perspective, this study investigated the occurrence of G. intestinalis in captive non-human primates (NHPs) and their caregivers across six zoological gardens in the Czech Republic, with a particular focus on the potential for zoonotic transmission. A total of 179 fecal samples (159 from 37 NHP species and 20 from caregivers) were analyzed using qPCR. Giardia was detected in 47 % of NHPs and 30 % of caregivers. Assemblage B was the most frequently identified genotype; however, genotyping was challenging in samples with low fecal protist load, limiting the ability to accurately assess transmission pathways. These findings reveal a high prevalence of G. intestinalis in zoo environments and underscore the importance of improved genotyping tools and further research into its transmission across species boundaries in human-managed settings.

Figures