Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 11, 2026
Development and Characterization of Fusidic Acid-Loaded Alginate-Aloe vera Based Hydrogel FilmWound Healing
Published on: December 13, 2024
Molecular detection of giardiasis among children at Cairo University Pediatrics Hospitals
Marwa A Ghieth1, Magd A Kotb2, Enas Y Abu-Sarea1
1Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Beni Suef University, Beni Suef, Egypt.
Insights
This study found nested PCR targeting the tpi gene to be a reliable method for diagnosing Giardiasis in children. Conventional methods like microscopy and ICT showed high specificity but limited sensitivity for detecting Giardia intestinalis.
Area of Science:
- Medical Parasitology
- Molecular Diagnostics
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Giardiasis is a common intestinal infection in children globally.
- Accurate diagnosis is crucial for effective treatment and control of Giardia intestinalis infections.
- Conventional diagnostic methods have limitations in sensitivity and specificity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the molecular prevalence of Giardia intestinalis in children with gastrointestinal symptoms.
- To evaluate the diagnostic effectiveness of microscopy, Immuno-chromatographic test (ICT), and two copro-PCR assays.
- To identify the most reliable diagnostic method for Giardiasis.
Main Methods:
- Fecal samples from 229 children were analyzed using microscopy, ICT, nested PCR (nPCR) targeting the tpi gene, and conventional PCR (cPCR) targeting the 18S gene.
- PCR assays were considered the composite reference standard for diagnosis.
- Diagnostic performance metrics including sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were calculated.
Main Results:
- The molecular prevalence of Giardia was 18.3%.
- nPCR (tpi) detected 17.9% and cPCR (18S) detected 4.8% of cases.
- Microscopy and ICT showed high specificity (100% and 96.9%) and accuracy (95.6% and 93.6%) but limited sensitivity (78.6% and 76.2%).
- nPCR targeting tpi demonstrated high reliability for Giardia detection.
Conclusions:
- Nested PCR targeting the tpi gene is a reliable diagnostic tool for Giardiasis.
- Microscopy and ICT are less sensitive and cannot be solely relied upon for diagnosis due to lower sensitivity.
- Accurate molecular methods are essential for determining the true prevalence of Giardia infections.
Abstract:
Giardiasis is a prevailing intestinal disease in children. This study aimed to determine molecular prevalence of Giardia intestinalis in children attending Cairo University Pediatrics Hospitals, using copro-PCR assays, conventional methods and to evaluate diagnostic effectiveness of used tests. 229 fecal samples were collected from children suffering from gastrointestinal symptoms and examined for Giardia by microscopy, Immuno-chromatographic test (ICT), copro-DNA using two PCR assays targeting tpi [nested-PCR (nPCR)] and 18S [conventional-PCR (cPCR)] genes. Out of 229 samples assessed, Giardia was diagnosed in 13.9, 17, 17.9, 4.8 % of cases using microscopy, ICT, nPCR (tpi) and cPCR (18S), respectively. Nominating both PCR assays as composite reference standard, microscopy and ICT were of reliable specificity (100 and 96.9 %) and accuracy (95.6 and 93.6 %) but of limited sensitivity (78.6 and 76.2 %). Kappa agreement showed, there was substantial agreement of ICT (0.776) and almost perfect agreement of microscopy (0.839) with PCR assays. Giardia showed a molecular prevalence of 18.3 % (42/229). ICT assay for Giardia surpassed microscopy but both couldn't be used as a consistent single detection method due to their lowered sensitivities. nPCR targeting tpi is a reliable diagnostic test aiding to determine true prevalence of Giardia.
More Related Videos
11:17A Simple Fractionated Extraction Method for the Comprehensive Analysis of Metabolites, Lipids, and Proteins from a Single Sample
Published on: June 1, 2017
16:08Microinjection of CRISPR/Cas9 Protein into Channel Catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, Embryos for Gene Editing
Published on: January 20, 2018