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