Serum anti- Giardia IgA in human Giardia lamblia infection

Abstract

Serum anti- Giardia IgA titres were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 39 patients with giardiasis from the U.K. and India and in 39 Giardia-free controls from the same locations. Anti- Giardia IgA titres were increased in nine of 25 (36%) of U.K. patients and four of 14 (29%) of Indian patients. Anti- Giardia IgA titres decreased in three patients within two to three weeks following eradication of the parasite. These findings suggest that the rise in anti- Giardia IgA titres are relatively short-lived and thus like serum IgM titres, may be useful in the diagnosis of acute infection.