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Abstract

Giardiasis, the disease caused by the flagellate (syn. ), is the most commonly reported among the five food- and waterborne parasitic diseases under mandatory surveillance in 24 EU countries. From November 2018 to April 2019, an outbreak of giardiasis occurred in a municipality of the Bologna province, in north-eastern Italy. Microscopy and immunochromatography identified cysts and antigens, respectively, of the parasite in stool samples of 228 individuals. Molecular typing of 136 stool samples revealed a vast predominance (95%) of assemblage B. Investigations into potential sources indicated tap water as the most likely vehicle of infection, although cysts were not detected in water samples. Control measures mostly aimed at preventing secondary transmission by informing citizens about the outbreak, and by treatment of patients with anti-parasitic drugs. This is the first documented human outbreak of giardiasis in Italy; its investigation has highlighted the difficulties in the timely detection and management of this parasite, which is often overlooked as a cause of human gastroenteritis. The long and variable incubation time, absence of specific symptoms and a general lack of awareness about this pathogen contributed to delay in diagnosis.

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/content/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2021.26.35.2001331
2021-09-02
2024-12-26
/content/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2021.26.35.2001331
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A large outbreak of giardiasis in a municipality of the Bologna province, north-eastern Italy, November 2018 to April 2019
<p class="citation"> <span>Citation style for this article:</span> <span class="meta-value authors"> <a href="/search?value1=Davide+Resi&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Resi Davide</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Stefania+Varani&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Varani Stefania</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Anna+Rosa+Sannella&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Sannella Anna Rosa</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Alessandra+M+De+Pascali&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">De Pascali Alessandra M</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Margherita+Ortalli&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Ortalli Margherita</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Giovanna+Liguori&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Liguori Giovanna</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Marco+Benvenuti&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Benvenuti Marco</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Maria+C+Re&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Re Maria C</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Roberta+Pirani&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Pirani Roberta</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Luciana+Prete&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Prete Luciana</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Claudia+Mazzetti&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Mazzetti Claudia</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Muriel+Musti&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Musti Muriel</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Lorenzo+Pizzi&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Pizzi Lorenzo</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Tiziana+Sanna&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Sanna Tiziana</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Simone+M+Cacci%C3%B2&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Cacciò Simone M</a></span>. A large outbreak of giardiasis in a municipality of the Bologna province, north-eastern Italy, November 2018 to April 2019. <a href="/content/ecdc">Euro Surveill.</a> 2021;26(35):pii=2001331. <a href="https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2021.26.35.2001331" title="doi link" target="_blank">https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2021.26.35.2001331</a> <span class="ES_Article_citation"> <span class="generated">Received</span>: 02 Jul 2020;&nbsp;&nbsp; <span class="generated">Accepted</span>: 26 Feb 2021 </span> </p>
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