Comparative Analysis of Parasitological, Immunodiagnostic and Histopathological Methods in the Diagnosis of Human Giardiasis

Natasa Miladinovic Tasic,Vuka Katic

doi:10.37358/rc.20.1.7861

Abstract

Giardiasis/lambliosis is a disease caused by the presence of a protozoan Giardia lamblia (G. lamblia) in the upper portions of the human digestive tract (DT). This cosmopolitan parasite is present particularly in children, but in all other age groups and socioeconomic conditions as well. The studies undertaken in the Ni�ava District (southeastern Serbia) have demonstrated a high prevalence of infection caused by G. lamblia species using conventional microscopy of three stool samples with or without concentration technique (6.24%), i.e. using the immunoenzymatic method to confirm the presence of G. lamblia antigen in the stool (6.59%). The use of invasive methods in the diagnosis of giardiasis is warranted in individual selected cases, when the significance of the parasite should be assessed regarding its involvement in the pathogenetic mechanisms of damage to the digestive tract mucosa.

Highlights

Introduction of theenzyme immunoabsorption assays (EIA) tests in the diagnosis of parasitic infections is a turning point in the diagnosis of giardiasis
Conventional microscopy (CM) of three stool samples with or without concentration technique is still recommended as the reference method in the diagnosis of the digestive tract (DT) infection caused by G. lamblia
In the third stool sample, the parasite was found in 5 patients using native preparation (NP) examination without a concentration method, and after a concentration method the presence of G. lamblia was confirmed in 7 patients

Summary

Introduction

Introduction of theEIA tests in the diagnosis of parasitic infections is a turning point in the diagnosis of giardiasis. Trophozoites of G. lamblia were confirmed in the duodenal juice in 2 (2/4; 50%) patients in whose stool samples the presence of the studied parasite was confirmed using CM and EIA methods.

Results

Conclusion