ABSTRACT Crude antigen prepared from adult Gigantobilharzia worms was used - for the first time - to immunize Balb/c mice against challenge infection with Schistosoma mansoni. Results of immunization were estimated by appearance of eggs in stool, antibodies in serum by Indirect Haemagglutination Test, counting the number of eggs and adults in liver and intestinal veins and tissues, estimation of the number and size of granulomas in the liver as well as description of adults deformities by ordinary and scanning electron microscopes. Obvious reduction in all these parameters was recorded in immunized mice. Further studies were recommended through the use of purified bird schistosomes antigens.

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Abstract Background: Giardia lamblia, a flagellate protozoon, is a common causative agent of parasitic diarrheal diseases of humans. Laboratory diagnosis mainly consists of direct microscopic examination of stool specimen for trophozoite and cysts of Giardia. However, due to intermittent fecal excretion of parasite, the case may be miss diagnosed and the patient may continue excreting the parasite and infecting others. Therefore, other methods of diagnosis are needed, which should overcome the above drawbacks of microscopy used alone. Objectives: The present study was done to evaluate the efficacy of immunoassay by RIDASCREEN Giardia and Immunochromatographic tests in comparison to direct microscopy in the diagnosis of Giardia lamblia in stool specimens from patients with diarrhea and other gastrointestinal symptoms. Materials and Methods: At the Children Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt, a total of 200 patients were included in this cross-sectional study and each fecal specimen was taken from each patient which was divided into two parts. One part was used for direct wet mount examination and second part was used for the quantitative and qualitative EIA RIDASCREEN Giardia and Immunochromatographic immunoassays, respectively. Results: Out of 200 stool samples, 60 specimens (30%) were found to be positive for Giardia lamblia by immunoassay that was significantly better than the conventional direct wet mount microscopy (20% detection). Maximum cases were detected by RIDASCREEN Giardia test with a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 91.5%. Conclusion: RIDASCREEN Giardia test is a rapid and effective method with high sensitivity and specificity and detects Giardia antigens in stool specimens even when the count of parasite is low, thus reducing the chances of missing even the asymptomatic cases.

Abstract Background: Giardia lamblia, a flagellate protozoon, is a common causative agent of parasitic diarrheal diseases of humans. Laboratory diagnosis mainly consists of direct microscopic examination of stool specimen for trophozoite and cysts of Giardia. However, due to intermittent fecal excretion of parasite, the case may be miss diagnosed and the patient may continue excreting the parasite and infecting others. Therefore, other methods of diagnosis are needed, which should overcome the above drawbacks of microscopy used alone. Objectives: The present study was done to evaluate the efficacy of immunoassay by RIDASCREEN Giardia and Immunochromatographic tests in comparison to direct microscopy in the diagnosis of Giardia lamblia in stool specimens from patients with diarrhea and other gastrointestinal symptoms. Materials and Methods: At the Children Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt, a total of 200 patients were included in this cross-sectional study and each fecal specimen was taken from each patient which was divided into two parts. One part was used for direct wet mount examination and second part was used for the quantitative and qualitative EIA RIDASCREEN Giardia and Immunochromatographic immunoassays, respectively. Results: Out of 200 stool samples, 60 specimens (30%) were found to be positive for Giardia lamblia by immunoassay that was significantly better than the conventional direct wet mount microscopy (20% detection). Maximum cases were detected by RIDASCREEN Giardia test with a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 91.5%. Conclusion: RIDASCREEN Giardia test is a rapid and effective method with high sensitivity and specificity and detects Giardia antigens in stool specimens even when the count of parasite is low, thus reducing the chances of missing even the asymptomatic cases.