Copro-Antigen versus Classical Microscopy as Diagnostic Tool for Giardia Lamblia Infection in Egyptian Patients
Shahat, S., Sallam, A., Gad, H., Abdallah, M. (2017). Copro-Antigen versus Classical Microscopy as Diagnostic Tool for Giardia Lamblia Infection in Egyptian Patients. EKB Journal Management System, 66(1), 90-93. doi: 10.12816/0034638
Samir A. Shahat; Ahmed M. Sallam; Hesham M. Gad; Mohammed H. Abdallah. "Copro-Antigen versus Classical Microscopy as Diagnostic Tool for Giardia Lamblia Infection in Egyptian Patients". EKB Journal Management System, 66, 1, 2017, 90-93. doi: 10.12816/0034638
Shahat, S., Sallam, A., Gad, H., Abdallah, M. (2017). 'Copro-Antigen versus Classical Microscopy as Diagnostic Tool for Giardia Lamblia Infection in Egyptian Patients', EKB Journal Management System, 66(1), pp. 90-93. doi: 10.12816/0034638
Shahat, S., Sallam, A., Gad, H., Abdallah, M. Copro-Antigen versus Classical Microscopy as Diagnostic Tool for Giardia Lamblia Infection in Egyptian Patients. EKB Journal Management System, 2017; 66(1): 90-93. doi: 10.12816/0034638

Copro-Antigen versus Classical Microscopy as Diagnostic Tool for Giardia Lamblia Infection in Egyptian Patients

The Egyptian Journal of Hospital Medicine
Article 11, Volume 66, Issue 1, January 2017, Page 90-93  XML PDF (242.9 K)
Document Type: Original Article
DOI: 10.12816/0034638
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Authors
Samir A. Shahat1; Ahmed M. Sallam1; Hesham M. Gad2; Mohammed H. Abdallah1
1Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt
2Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt
Abstract
Background: Giardia lamblia, a flagellate protozoa, is a one of the most common causes of non-viral (parasitic) diarrheal illness in humans. Laboratory diagnosis mainly consists of direct microscopic examination of stool specimen for trophozoites and cysts. However, due to intermittent fecal excretion of the parasite, the patient may be misdiagnosed, continue excreting the parasite and infecting others. Therefore, other methods of diagnosis should be looked for, which overcome the drawbacks of microscopy when used alone for diagnosis. The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of copro-antigen detection by ELISA test in comparison to direct microscopy in the diagnosis of G. lamblia in stool specimens from patients with diarrhea and other gastrointestinal symptoms.
Patients and methods: stool samples were collected form 250 child included in the present study (150 symptomatic and 100 apparently healthy as a control group) aged between 1-10 years old, and subjected for direct microscopic examination and ELISA test for copro-antigen detection.
Results: out of 250 stool samples, 53 specimens (21.2%) were positive for Giardia by direct microscopy, while 68 specimens (27.2%) were positive by ELISA test.
Conclusion: ELISA test for copro-antigen detection in stool samples is a rapid and effective method with high sensitivity and specificity for diagnosis of giardiasis in stool specimens even when the parasitic count is low, thus reducing the chances of missing even in the asymptomatic cases.
 
Keywords
Direct microscopy; Giardia lamblia; RIDASCREEN Giardia (ELISA) test
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