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Application of Genotyping during an Extensive Outbreak of Waterborne Giardiasis in Bergen, Norway, during Autumn and Winter 2004

Parasitology Laboratory, Department of Food Safety and Infection Biology, Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, 0033 Oslo, Norway,¹ Unit for Infectious Diseases and Parasitology, Department of Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, 5021 Bergen, Norway²

Received 23 June 2005/ Accepted 28 November 2005

	ABSTRACT

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During the autumn and winter of 2004 and 2005, an extensive outbreak of waterborne giardiasis occurred in Bergen, Norway. Over 1,500 patients were diagnosed with giardiasis. Analysis of water from the implicated source revealed low numbers of Giardia cysts, but the initial contamination event probably occurred up to 10 weeks previously. While sewage leakage from a residential area is now considered to be the probable source of contamination, during the episode waste from one particular septic tank was thought to be a possible source. Genotyping of cysts from the septic tank demonstrated that they were assemblage A cysts, although the sequences were not identical to any previously published sequences. For the ß-giardin gene, the closest published subgenotype was subgenotype A3; for the gdh gene, the closest published subgenotype was subgenotype A2. Genotyping of cysts from 21 patient samples revealed that they were assemblage B cysts; thus, the septic tank was unlikely to be the contamination source. Sequencing of the ß-giardin and gdh genes from patient samples and a comparison of the sequences gave complex results. For the ß-giardin gene, three isolates had sequences identical to subgenotype B3 sequences. However, other isolates had between one and four single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). For the gdh gene, none of the sequences were identical to the sequence published for subgenotype B3, and the sequences had between one and three SNPs. One isolate, which was identical to subgenotype B3 at the ß-giardin gene, was more similar to subgenotype B2 at the gdh gene. Grouping the isolates on the basis of SNPs resulted in different groups for the two genes. The results are discussed in relation to giardiasis in Norway and to other Giardia genotyping studies.

	INTRODUCTION

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Human parasitic infections, although probably underdiagnosed, are considered to be rare in Norway. Giardiasis is a reportable infection, and the annual recorded occurrence is 300 to 400 cases (around 8 cases per 100,000 population) for the whole country (6).

During the autumn and winter of 2004 and 2005, an extensive outbreak of waterborne giardiasis occurred in Bergen, Norway (Table 1). Over 1,500 patients were laboratory diagnosed with Giardia infection, although considerably more individuals had symptoms, and Giardia infections considered to be outbreak associated continued to be diagnosed until June 2005.

The initial source of contamination of the water supply was obviously of concern and interest, not least to ensure that repeat contamination events did not occur. The final report (10) indicates that sewage leakage from a residential area with drainage toward the water source was the most likely source of contamination, although no definitive evidence was provided and no analyses were conducted. However, during the episode and peak of media and public interest, considerable suspicion was directed toward disposal of waste from a septic tank at a particular tourist installation.

Here we describe how genotyping procedures provided evidence of the lack of likelihood that this installation was the source of the initial contamination event, as well as background information about the water analysis and preliminary information on genotypic analysis of the Giardia cysts isolated from some of the infected patients.

	MATERIALS AND METHODS

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Fecal samples (purification of Giardia cysts).
Giardiasis was diagnosed at the Unit for Infectious Diseases and Parasitology, Department of Medicine, at Haukeland University Hospital (HUS) in Bergen, either by detection of cysts in fecal samples by microscopy following standard formalin-ether concentration or by a fecal antigen test (ImmunoCard STAT! Cryptosporidium/Giardia rapid assay; Meridian Bioscience, Inc.). Positive samples were forwarded to the Parasitology Laboratory at the Department of Food Safety and Infection Biology at the Norwegian School of Veterinary Science (NVH).

At NVH, samples were refrigerated until further analysis, which was begun as rapidly as possible. Coded samples were washed in detergent solution, and this was followed by flotation on saturated salt (NaCl) solution and washing in distilled water. Each final semipurified suspension (approximately 1.5 ml) was refrigerated.

For the initial analyses described here, 21 stool samples (from 19 different, apparently unrelated individuals) were selected randomly from among the first 50 samples received at NVH. All had been diagnosed at HUS by microscopy, as the fecal antigen test was not in use then. An overview of the samples, patients, and symptoms is shown in Table 2.

The remainder of the suspension was purified further by immunomagnetic separation (IMS) (GC-Combo; Dynal Biotech ASA, Oslo, Norway) by using a modification of the procedure described by the manufacturer, as briefly described below. To the suspension in each microcentrifuge tube were added 100 µl of each buffer provided and 15 µl of Dynabeads coated with anti-Giardia monoclonal antibody. The suspension was mixed by rotation for 1 h before collection of the beads with a magnet, washing in water, and separation of the beads and cysts by vigorous shaking in 0.1 M acid.

Septic tank samples (purification of Giardia cysts).
Five liters of sewage suspension from the septic tank was concentrated to 10 ml by repeated centrifugation. Giardia cysts were isolated using IMS (GC-Combo) by following the manufacturer's instructions, except that only 50% of the final purified concentrate was dried on a Spot-On slide for fixing, staining (as described above for fecal samples), and microscopy. The remaining 50% was refrigerated for DNA isolation.

Soil samples.
Twelve soil samples from the vicinity of the septic tank were sent to NVH. A series of mixing, settling, decanting, and centrifugation steps were performed, followed either by salt flotation and IMS or only IMS (GC-Combo) following the manufacturer's instructions. Only 50% of the final concentrate was dried on a Spot-On slide for fixing, staining (as described above for fecal samples), and microscopy. The remaining 50% was refrigerated for DNA isolation.

DNA isolation.
Cysts from feces, septic tank sewage, and positive soil samples were resuspended in Tris-EDTA buffer and placed in a heat block set at 100°C overnight. DNA was isolated using a QIAamp DNA mini kit (QIAGEN GmbH, Germany). In the final step, two elutions in distilled water were performed. The isolated DNA was refrigerated until PCR was performed.

Water samples.
The first water samples from the implicated source, raw and treated, were sent to the Parasitology Laboratory at NVH in early November 2004 and were analyzed by using U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Method 1623 (12), with membrane filtration of 10 liters of water as the initial step (11). An additional seven water samples (four treated samples and three raw samples) from other water sources in the area were also collected and analyzed at this time.

Due to limited analytical capacity at NVH, additional water samples were sent from Bergen to the Water and Environmental Microbiology Unit at the Swedish Institute for Infectious Disease Control (SMI) in Solna, Sweden. A few cysts were detected in a number of samples (2 cysts per 10 liters of water) and were largely empty (DAPI negative) (Anette Hansen, SMI, personal communication). DNA was extracted from positive samples at SMI using a QIAamp DNA mini kit. The DNA isolated from 12 positive water samples was forwarded by courier to NVH.

PCR, electrophoresis, purification of PCR product, and sequencing.
Three genes were used for genotyping investigations, the ß-giardin gene, the glutamate dehydrogenase (gdh) gene, and the triosphosphate isomerase (tpi) gene, using previously described methods and primers (1, 3, 7), with slight modifications to the protocols described.

For ß-giardin and gdh gene investigations, Giardia cysts isolated from all samples of feces, water, and septic tank sewage were used. Only one soil sample (in which a nucleated cyst had been identified) was included, and this sample was used only for analysis of the ß-giardin gene.

For the tpi gene, only DNA from one fecal sample (sample DA) and from both elutions of the DNA from the septic tank sewage sample were investigated. The rationale for investigation of this gene is that since two primer sets are used, one for assemblage A and one for assemblage B, the possibility that if both assemblages are present, amplification of the predominant assemblage will mask the occurrence of the other is avoided.

For all genes, the following PCR mixture was used: 10 pmol of each primer, 0.4 µl of bovine serum albumin (20 mg/ml), 17.6 µl of water, 25 µl of HotStartTaqmaster (QIAGEN GmbH, Germany), and 3 µl of template. For each set of reactions, a negative control (water) and a positive control (DNA from Giardia assemblage A trophozoites; Hyperion Research, Medicine Hat, Canada) were included.

The primers and reaction conditions used are described in Table S2 in the supplemental material. PCR products were electrophoresed on 1% agarose gels and stained with ethidium bromide.

Following successful PCR, the products were purified (High Pure PCR product purification kit; Roche Diagnostics GmbH) by using the manufacturer's protocol with minimal modifications. The air-dried purified products were sent, along with appropriate primers, for sequencing of both strands to MWG Biotech in Germany. Chromatograms and sequences were examined using Chromas (http://www.technelysium.com.au/chromas.html) and BioEdit (http://www.mbio.ncsu.edu/BioEdit/page2.html). Sequence searches were conducted using BLAST (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/BLAST/).

Nucleotide sequence accession numbers.
Sequences described here have been deposited in the GenBank database under accession numbers DQ090522 to DQ090542.

	RESULTS

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As in the overall infected population during the peak stages of the outbreak, most patients included in the analyses described here were female, and the median age was 35 years (Table 2). For one patient, three samples taken on successive days were included. All samples were positive as determined by microscopy (Table 2), and the predominant cyst score was ++ (10 to 50 cysts per field of view with a x20 objective).

The septic tank sewage sample was also positive (approximately 20 cysts per field of view with a x20 objective), but most cysts were broken or distorted; less than 1% were nucleated (DAPI-stained nuclei visibly contained within the cyst wall).

Of the 12 soil samples analyzed, only 4 were positive. Three contained single cysts (nonnucleated), and one contained eight cysts, one of which was nucleated. This sample was analyzed by performing a PCR for the ß-giardin gene, but amplification was not successful.

Five Giardia cysts were detected in the treated water from the implicated source, and two cysts were detected in the raw water. None of the cysts were nucleated, and further analysis of these samples was not conducted. Parasites were not detected in six of the seven other water samples. In one other treated water sample, a single cyst, which was nonnucleated and had poor morphology, was detected. PCR amplification of both ß-giardin and gdh gene sequences was unsuccessful for the DNA isolated from Giardia-positive water samples from the implicated water sent from SMI in Sweden.

PCR amplification of the ß-giardin and gdh gene sequences was successful for all patient samples. The products were the expected size, and sequencing produced clear electropherograms with well-defined peaks. Sequence analysis of the PCR products resulting from ß-giardin and gdh gene amplification from all patient samples indicated that the Giardia involved in the outbreak was genotype B and, in general, was most similar to subgenotype B3 or B2. However, not all sequences were identical, nor were they all identical to previously published sequences.

For the ß-giardin gene, three samples were identical to Giardia intestinalis assemblage B, genotype B3 (3) (GenBank accession number AY072727), while the other 18 samples could be divided into 10 other groups (for a total of 11 groups) that differed from genotype B3 by between one and four nucleotide substitutions or single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). At this gene, all samples were more similar to genotype B3 than to genotype B2 (3) (GenBank accession number AY072726). The 11 different groups contained between one and six samples. For three samples, electropherograms indicated that there were 2 nucleotides at the same position, which could be consistent with the presence of genetically different cysts in the same isolate (5). Thus, while 18 samples were each placed into one of the 11 groups, 3 samples were placed into two of the groups. Allelic sequence heterozygosity is an alternative explanation, as previously reported (2), but it was not explored further in this study. A summary of these results is shown in Table 2, and additional information is provided in Table S4 in the supplemental material.

For the gdh gene, no samples were identical to genotype B3 (GenBank accession number AY178756); again, the samples were grouped, this time into 10 groups, on the basis of SNPs. Although for 20 samples the sequences were more similar to genotype B3 (GenBank accession number AY178756), with between one and four SNPs compared with genotype B3, for one sample (sample ØA) the sequence was more similar to genotype B2 (GenBank accession number AY178753), with three differences from genotype B3 but only two differences from genotype B2. The different groups contained between one and nine samples. For one sample, the electropherograms indicated that there were 2 nucleotides at the same position, which could be consistent with the presence of genetically different cysts in the same isolate (5). Thus, while 20 samples were each placed into one of the 10 groups, one sample was placed into two groups. Allelic sequence heterozygosity is an alternative explanation, as previously reported (2), but it was not explored further in this study. A summary of these results is shown in Table 2, and additional information is provided in Table S5 in the supplemental material.

Sequence analysis of the septic tank sewage sample PCR product for ß-giardin and gdh gene amplification indicated that the predominant Giardia genotype was genotype A. For the ß-giardin gene, the closest previously described subgenotype was subgenotype A3 (3) (GenBank accession number AY072724); however, there were two SNP differences compared with the previously described subgenotype. For the gdh gene, the electropherograms obtained with both forward and reverse primers were truncated, possibly due to the poor quality of DNA extracted from disintegrating cysts. Alignment of forward and reverse sequences resulted in a 168-bp overlap, and the closest previously described genotype for the section of overlap was either genotype A2 (GenBank accession number AY178737) or genotype A1 (GenBank accession number AY178735), with just one SNP. However, in the longer forward sequence there were two additional nucleotide differences which indicated that the genotype was genotype A2. These results are summarized in Table 3.

View larger version (115K): [in this window] [in a new window]   FIG. 1. Electrophoretic separation of tpi amplification products using two primer sets. Primers TPIAIF and TPIAR amplify a 576-bp product from assemblage A G. intestinalis, and primers TPIBIF and TPIBR amplify a 208-bp product from assemblage B G. intestinalis.

	DISCUSSION

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Monitoring of water for parasites in Norway is largely conducted on an ad hoc, mostly very occasional, basis, and there is little infrastructure for such analyses. Nevertheless, the water source involved in this outbreak was monitored regularly, if infrequently, for Giardia parasites, indicating that there was an awareness of the potential for waterborne parasitic infection. When the sharp increase in giardiasis cases in Bergen was first noted during late October 2004, identification of the waterborne route and detection of Giardia cysts in the implicated water occurred relatively rapidly. A "boil water" instruction was implemented quickly by the authorities and was in place for most of November and December 2004.

Retrospective analysis of turbidity and fecal coliform data for the water source, along with weather patterns, suggested that the initial contamination of the water probably occurred in late August 2004 during a period of heavy precipitation. The 7- to 8-week period between contamination and detection of the first cases associated with the outbreak can probably be explained by medical practices in Norway, where exploration for Giardia infection is seldom requested by doctors unless the patient has recently been abroad (6). Additionally, the incubation period for giardiasis is between 1 and 2 weeks, and many patients probably did not immediately seek medical advice. In the weeks preceding identification of the outbreak, the number of fecal specimens sent to the bacteriology laboratory at HUS rose (854 samples were submitted during October 2003, and 1,489 samples were submitted during October 2004 [G. Njølstad, personal communication]).

The data presented here provide evidence that the Giardia that caused the outbreak belonged to assemblage B and was closely related to genotype B3. Interpretation of the differences in sequences between the patient samples for the ß-giardin and gdh genes was complex. For the ß-giardin gene, three isolates had sequences identical to the previously published sequence designated genotype B3 (3). However, other isolates had between one and four SNPs, based on around 10 polymorphic nucleotide positions. Whether these isolates could or should be classified as members of further genotypes or subgenotypes is uncertain, and we have not done so here. However, other researchers have described new genotypes based on a single SNP at one of these loci (5) (subgenotype B6). For the gdh gene, none of the sequences were identical to the sequence previously described for genotype B3, although genotype B3 was always the most similar (with one exception). Again, between one and three SNPs were found based on around 12 polymorphic nucleotide positions. Also, the possibility that the SNPs were sequencing artifacts cannot be completely excluded.

Grouping of isolates according to SNPs gave different groups for each gene. Although two patient isolates (isolates NA and P) were in their own groups for each gene, other isolates showed completely different grouping for each gene. For example, isolates FA and VA had identical SNPs for the gdh gene, which were not shared with any other isolate; thus, isolates FA and VA were grouped together, with no other isolates. However, with the ß-giardin gene, their SNPs were quite different from each other, but these SNPs occurred in other isolates and the isolates were therefore placed in different groups from each other but together with four or five other isolates. One sample (sample ØA) was identical to genotype B3 at the ß-giardin gene but was more similar to genotype B2 at the gdh gene. We were unable to find any reports of investigations of nucleotide sequences for both these genes in assemblage B Giardia isolates, and the lack of concurrence between the results for these genes in our analysis calls into question the adequacy of criteria for grouping isolates and indicates that this is an avenue for further research.

As the samples included were selected at random from earlier specimens of the large number of isolates obtained from this outbreak, it was not until these analyses were complete that retrospective study of the documentation showed that three samples (samples C, M, and W) were from the same patient and that the samples were collected on successive days. For the gdh PCR amplification product, all three isolates had the same SNPs, placing them in the same group. However, for the ß-giardin gene, the samples fell into two groups. One isolate had two nucleotides at the same position, and the other two isolates resembled each of these.

It is not possible to determine whether the initial contamination involved a range of genetically different assemblage B cysts or whether nucleotide sequences evolved between and within patients. As Giardia cysts and their DNA were isolated from as many patients as possible in this outbreak, future genotyping and sequence studies of these isolates, comparisons between family members, temporal differences, and other factors may provide interesting information.

Determining the source of the initial contamination of the water was obviously a matter of pertinence. A number of suggestions were analyzed for their likelihood (10), including another water source, spreading of manure, contamination from dogs that were being exercised, sewage leakage or discharge from a septic tank, and sewage leakage from three different residential areas in the neighborhood. Ultimately, it was concluded that sewage leakage from a residential area was the most probable source, based largely on geographical criteria and also on evidence of leakage from sewage pipes, although the sewage itself was never analyzed. However, the work described here provides definitive evidence that the septic tank was unlikely to be the contamination source. Although a large number of cysts were detected and cysts were also detected in soil in the vicinity of the septic tank, analyses of three different genes demonstrated that cysts in the septic tank sewage were assemblage A cysts. As sewage is likely to contain cysts from a variety of hosts, it is not surprising that two genotypes (genotypes A2 and A3) were present, as indicated by genotyping of the ß-giardin and gdh genes. However, if this is so, it is curious that multiple peaks on the electropherograms did not indicate the presence of more than one assemblage A genotype for either gene. For all three genes there was no evidence that the septic tank contained assemblage B Giardia cysts.

Previous analysis at sewage treatment plants around Norway demonstrated that most Giardia cysts in sewage influent in Norway are assemblage A cysts (8; L. Robertson, B. Gjerde, L. Hermansen, and I. S. Hamnes, Abstr. Int. Giardia Cryptosporidium Conf., abstr. P091, 2004), and similar results have been obtained in studies in Italy (4) and the United States (9). In the United States study, in which a single gene (tpi) was used for genotyping, SNPs were used to divide the isolates into subgenotypes; for the 20 assemblage B isolates, 10 different, distinct subgenotypes were identified, while only 5 subgenotypes were identified for the 111 assemblage A isolates. The authors used this information to suggest that assemblage A parasites may evolve more slowly than assemblage B parasites and that the high genetic diversity in assemblage B isolates indicated that there was more than one source of Giardia infection. While our data may support the suggestion that there is relatively rapid evolution of assemblage B Giardia, our data also suggest that high genetic diversity in assemblage B isolates may occur, even when there is apparently only a single infection source.

	ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

 
For their various contributions to the data presented in this paper we acknowledge the following individuals: Åshild Våge and Torunn Kleppe of the Parasitology Laboratory at the Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, Oslo, Norway; Rita Kvamsdal, Gro Rasmussen, and Eli Askvik of the Parasitology Laboratory at Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway; Øystein Strand of Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway; Ane Gjesdal, Øystein Søbstad, and Ingar Tveit of Bergen kommune, Bergen, Norway; Peter Wallis of Hyperion Research, Medicine Hat, Canada; and Anette Hansen of the Water and Environmental Microbiology Unit at the Swedish Institute for Infectious Disease Control, Solna, Sweden.

Some of this work was supported by the Research Council of Norway.

	FOOTNOTES

 
* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Parasitology Laboratory, Department of Food Safety and Infection Biology, Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, PO Box 8146 Dep, 0033 Oslo, Norway. Phone: 47 22964966. Fax: 47 22964965. E-mail: lucy.robertson{at}veths.no.

Supplemental material for this article may be found at http://aem.asm.org/.

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Top Abstract Introduction Materials and Methods Results Discussion References

 

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