Potential diagnosis of Giardia lamblia infection through specific antibody detection in saliva

Thirty six patients presenting with gastrointestinal symptoms were studied for the presence of specific anti-Giardia lamblia salivary IgA antibodies. Stool samples were examined for parasites especially G. lamblia by direct smear. Duodenal aspirate was examined for the parasite. Saliva samples were collected from each patient and examined by ELISA technique for the specific anti-Giardia lamblia IgA antibodies. 94.4% of positive cases for G. laimblia by stool analysis had positive anti-Giardia salivary IgA antibodies. 33.3% of stool negative cases were positive for anti-Giardia salivary IgA antibodies. All Giardia negative cases by duodenal aspirate examination were negative for anti-Giardia salivary IgA antibodies. Detection of antiGiardia salivary IgA antibodies was an excellent tool for screening G. lamblia in patients with long standing symptoms of more than one month duration.