Detection of anti-Giardia lamblia serum antibody among children of day care centers.
OBJECTIVE
To detect anti-Giardia lamblia serum antibodies in healthy children attending public day care centers and to assess serological tests as tools for estimating the prevalence of G. lamblia in endemic areas.


METHODS
Three separate stool specimens and filter paper blood samples were collected from 147 children ranging from 0 to 6 years old. Each stool sample was processed using spontaneous sedimentation and zinc sulfate flotation methods. Blood samples were tested by indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for Giardia IgG.


CONCLUSIONS
Of 147 individuals tested, 93 (63.3%) showed Giardia cysts in their feces. Using IIF and ELISA, serum antibodies were detected in 93 (63.3%) and 100 (68%) samples, respectively. Sensitivity of IIF and ELISA was 82% and 72%, respectively. However, ELISA revealed to be less specific (39%) than IIF (70%). IIF also showed a higher concordance with microscopic examination than ELISA.
Guimarães
Semíramis
S
Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Botucatu, SP, Brasil. sgviana@ibb.unesp.br
Sogayar
Maria Ignês L
MI
D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002656:Child Day Care Centers; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D016829:Giardia lamblia / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005873:Giardiasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D007074:Immunoglobulin G