Abstract
Giardiasis, a common gastrointestinal parasitic infection in tropics, is diagnosed on stool microscopy (gold standard); however, its sensitivity is low due to intermittent fecal shedding. Coproantigen detection (ELISA) is useful but requires further evaluation. We aimed to study: (a) detection of Giardia by stool microscopy and/or coproantigen, (b) diagnostic performance of fecal antigen detection and microscopy, and c) genotypic characterization of G. lamblia using PCR specific for triose phosphate isomerase (tpi) gene. Stool samples from 2992 patients were examined by microscopy from March 2013 to March 2015 in a multi level teaching hospital in northern India. Giardia coproantigen detection was performed by ELISA in a subset of patients. Genetic characterization of G. lamblia was performed by PCR targeting tpi gene in a subset of microscopy positive stool samples. Of 2992 patients, 132 (4.4%) had Giardia by microscopy (cyst/trophozoite) and/or ELISA. ELISA was performed in 264 patients; of them, 127 were positive by microscopy. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of ELISA were 91, 91, 94, and 91%, respectively, using microscopy as a gold standard. PCR was performed in 116 randomly selected samples having Giardia using tpi gene. Assemblages A and B were found among 44 (38%) and 72 (62%) patients, respectively. Assemblage B was more often associated with malnutrition and loss of appetite than A (48/72 [67%] vs. 21/44 [48%], P = 0.044 and 17/72 [24%] vs. 14/44 [32%], P = 0.019). We conclude that 4.4% of studied population had giardiasis. Fecal antigen is a useful method for diagnosis and assemblage B is the most common genotype.