[Morphologic characterization with light and electron microscopy of "nonspecific elements" in biliary drainage]

Since some years ago in our country are reported "inspecific elements" in biliary drainage, name given to some round shaped structures of approximately 12 microns, which generally appear associated to trophozoites of Giardia lamblia, disappearing after an antigiardia treatment. Many gastroenterologists consider such elements as Giardia, but they are still unknown in nature. Our object was to study them at the optic and electronic microscope for their comparison with the biologic forms of G. lamblia. Samples of rich G. lamblia trophozoites and "inspecific elements" biliary drainage, culture trophozoites and G. lamblia cysts rich feces were used. The samples were processed by a routine technique for transmission electronic microscope, with some modifications. Our studies demonstrated that the morphologic characters of the "inspecific elements" correspond to macrophages.