1Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology, Saraswathi Institute of Medical Sciences, Hapur, (UP), India
2Professor, Department of Microbiology, Saraswathi Institute of Medical Sciences, Hapur, (UP), India
3Post Graduate Student, Department of Microbiology, Saraswathi Institute of Medical Sciences, Hapur, (UP), India
4Professor and Head, Department of Microbiology, Saraswathi Institute of Medical Sciences, Hapur, (UP), India
Online published on 16 August, 2018.
The aim of this study was to compare microscopic detection rates of Giardia intestinalis infection with ELISA in stool samples of school going children.
The early morning stool samples were collected from 351 apparently healthy school going children aged 3–12 years from adjacent rural area. All the stool samples were also processed by Formol-Ether (Modified Ritchief's method) concentration method to enhance the recovery of parasites and the smears were examined by wet mounts and iodine mounts. All the stool samples were further subjected to ELISA for antigen detection.
A total of 51 (14.52%) stool samples were positive by microscopy of concentrated sample and ELISA was positive in 167 (47.57%) samples.
Our study shows that ELISA for copro-antigens is more sensitive and effective method to detect giardiasis as it could detect 116 microscopy-negative stool samples in addition to detecting 51 microscopy-positive samples. Proper drinking water, waste disposal, hand washing and promotion of personal hygiene through education are important for prevention of giardiasis in school going children.
Giardia intestinalis, copro-antigen, ELISA, stool concentration method, stool microscopy
