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Comparison of microscopic and immunoassay examination in the diagnosis of intestinal protozoa of humans in Mansoura, Egypt

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Abstract

Protozoal diseases are prevalent globally and especially in developing countries that have relatively lower socioeconomic populations such as Egypt. Direct microscopic examination (DME) is used for the detection and identification of protozoa but lacks sufficient reliability, and thus may be detrimental in obtaining accurate diagnostic or epidemiological data. In this study, we determine the prevalence of infections by Giardia intestinalis, Cryptosporidium sp., and Entamoeba histolytica in humans in Egypt. Furthermore, we determine the reliability of DME in determining infections caused by these protozoa and compare the results to enzyme linked Immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Our results indicate that the prevalence of giardiasis, cryptosporidiosis, and entamoebiasis is 38, 22, and 16 %, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of DME for detection of G. intestinalis is 45 and 99 %, for Cryptosporidium 66 and 99 %, and for Entamoeba 45 and 100 %, respectively. Our findings demonstrate that ELISA is more reliable for diagnostic and epidemiologic study purposes.

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Acknowledgment

The authors acknowledge Dr. Joel Herbein, TechLab, for providing the ELISA kits and Mrs. Jennifer Cacciola, TechLab, for technical support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology, Infectious, and Emerging Diseases, Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, 2265 Kraft Drive, Blacksburg, VA, 24060, USA

    Shaadi F. Elswaifi & James R. Palmieri

  2. Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Gomhorria Street, Mansoura City, Dakahlia, Egypt

    Nora El-Tantawy

  3. Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Gomhorria Street, Mansoura City, Dakahlia, Egypt

    Mona El-Hussiny & Ekbal Abohashem

  4. Department of Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Gomhorria Street, Mansoura City, Dakahlia, Egypt

    Tarek Besheer

Authors
  1. Shaadi F. Elswaifi
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  2. James R. Palmieri
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  3. Nora El-Tantawy
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  4. Mona El-Hussiny
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  5. Tarek Besheer
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  6. Ekbal Abohashem
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nora El-Tantawy.

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Elswaifi, S.F., Palmieri, J.R., El-Tantawy, N. et al. Comparison of microscopic and immunoassay examination in the diagnosis of intestinal protozoa of humans in Mansoura, Egypt. J Parasit Dis 40, 580–585 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12639-014-0542-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12639-014-0542-3

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