title: [Investigation of the Giardia lamblia infection rate using whole gut lavage fluid].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Approximately 100 cases of giardiasis incidence are reported each year in Japan. The actual infection rate, however, is suspected to be higher since giardiasis is often overlooked due to the mildness of its symptoms. We investigated the presence of trophozoites of Giardia lamblia microscopically in sediment of whole gut lavage fluid obtained from patients undergoing colonoscopy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Whole gut lavage fluid was collected from all 3035 cases (2355 persons) undergoing colonoscopy at Osaka Medical Center for Cancer and Cardiovascular Diseases from 1993 to 1997. After Papanicolaou staining, sediment specimens of the lavage fluid were microscopically observed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Giardia lamblia were identified in 15 cases (12 persons: 0.51%). Among them, four patients had diarrhea and/or abdominal pain. Subsequently, three of them were treated with metronidazole.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Giardiasis is not a rare infectious disease among the Japanese; therefore it should be taken into consideration in evaluating enteritis.
authors.affiliation: Division of Preventive and Social Medicine, Department of Hygiene and Public Health, Osaka Medical College.
authors.forename: Astuko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kawano
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ishikawa
authors.forename: Tatsuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Toru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Otani
authors.forename: Hiroyasu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Iishi
authors.forename: Shingo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ishiguro
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D003113:Colonoscopy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D016829:Giardia lamblia / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005873:Giardiasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology*; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D017678:Sex Distribution; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D008795:Metronidazole