title: Low sensitivity of the ImmunocardSTAT®Crypto/Giardia Rapid Assay test for the detection ofGiardiaandCryptosporidiumin fecal samples from children living in Libreville, Central Africa.
abstract: Giardiasis and cryptosporidiosis are now recognized as neglected tropical parasitic diseases. The risk of their dissemination  in developing countries, such as Gabon, is increasing, due to urban crowding and poor sanitation. Accurate, simple and rapid diagnosis tools are thus necessary for the estimation of their real burden. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performances of the ImmunocardSTAT®Crypto/GiardiaRapid Assay test for the detection ofCryptosporidium(C.) spp. andGiardia(G.)duodenalisin children living in Libreville, Gabon. Stool samples of 173 healthy children were screened by routine microscopic using the merthiolate iodine formol concentration technique forGiardia, the modified Ziehl Neelsen (ZN) staining forCryptosporidiumand the ImmunocardSTAT®Crypto/Giardia RDT for the detection ofGiardiaandCryptosporidiumparasite forms and antigens respectively.G. duodenaliswas detected with microscopy and the ImmunocardSTAT®Crypto/Giardia in 27 (15.6 %) and 22 (13.3 %) fecal samples respectively.C.spp. oocysts were found in 18 (10.4 %) ones, whereas only one sample was positive with the immunochromatographic assay. When microscopic examination was considered as the reference method, sensitivity and specificity of the ImmunocardSTAT®Crypto/Giardia Rapid Assay were found to be 63.0 %, 96.6 and 5.5 %, 99.3 % forG. duodenalisandC.spp. respectively. The prevalence ofG. duodenalisandC.spp. carriage is high in children from Libreville. A low sensitivity of the ImmunocardSTAT®Crypto/Giardia for the detection of both parasites is observed. It is thus inappropriate as a diagnostic tool for detecting asymptomatic carriers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology-Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Université des Sciences de la Santé, BP 4009, Libreville, Gabon.
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Bouyou-Akotet
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology-Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Université des Sciences de la Santé, BP 4009, Libreville, Gabon.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Owono-Medang
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology-Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Université des Sciences de la Santé, BP 4009, Libreville, Gabon.
authors.forename: M N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Moussavou-Boussougou
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology-Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Université des Sciences de la Santé, BP 4009, Libreville, Gabon.
authors.forename: M Mabika
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Mamfoumbi
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology-Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Université des Sciences de la Santé, BP 4009, Libreville, Gabon.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mintsa-Nguema
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology-Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Université des Sciences de la Santé, BP 4009, Libreville, Gabon.
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Mawili-Mboumba
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology-Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Université des Sciences de la Santé, BP 4009, Libreville, Gabon.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kombila
keywords: Children; Cryptosporidium spp.; Gabon; Giardia duodenalis; RDTs