Saliva and sera IgA and IgG in Egyptian Giardia-infected children.
- Resource Type
- Article
- Authors
- El-Gebaly, Naglaa; Halawa, Eman; Moussa, Hanaa; Rabia, Ibrahim; Abu-Zekry, Maha
- Source
- Parasitology Research. Aug2012, Vol. 111 Issue 2, p571-575. 5p.
- Subject
- *GIARDIASIS
*SALIVA
*SERUM
*GASTROINTESTINAL diseases
*ENZYME-linked immunosorbent assay
*IMMUNOGLOBULINS
- Language
- ISSN
- 0932-0113
Giardiasis is a gastrointestinal infection of wide distribution that is more prevalent in childhood. Easy and rapid diagnosis of giardiasis is essential for reduction of this infection. This cross-sectional study included 62 children in which collection of saliva, stool and serum samples was performed. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique was evaluated to detect IgA and IgG responses in both saliva and serum samples. Twenty-two children were positive for Giardia duodenalis infection by direct examination of faecal specimens, 20 non-infected and 20 infected with other parasites. Salivary and serum IgA and IgG responses against G. duodenalis infection were significantly higher in Giardia parasitized than non- Giardia parasitized children ( p < 0.001). This concludes that specific salivary IgA may serve as a diagnostic tool and specific salivary IgG as a screening tool in monitoring the exposure of various populations to Giardia duodenalis. The advantage of salivary assays over serum immunoglobulin assay is being easy and non-invasive in sampling technique which is important especially for young children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]