Detection of Giardia lamblia and Entamoeba histolytica in Stool Samples by Two Enzyme Immunoassays |
| |
Authors: | M Schunk T Jelinek K Wetzel H D Nothdurft |
| |
Institution: | (1) Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, University of Munich, Leopoldstrasse 5, 80802 Munich, Germany e-mail: jelinek@lrz.uni-muenchen.de Tel.: +49-89-21803517 Fax: +49-89-336112, DE |
| |
Abstract: | Two commercially produced enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) to detect antigens of Giardia lamblia and Entamoeba histolytica in stool specimens were evaluated. A total of 276 stool specimens were collected from patients who presented with various
medical complaints in the outpatient clinic of the Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, University of
Munich. Every specimen was examined by conventional microscopy and tested by both EIA kits. When microscopy was used as the
reference standard, the EIA kit detecting Giardia lamblia showed a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 99.6%. The EIA kit detecting Entamoeba histolytica had a sensitivity of 81.8% and a specificity of 99.2%. Both tests showed no cross-reactivity with other intestinal protozoa.
Antigen detection by EIA has the potential to become a valuable tool capable of making stool diagnostics more effective, although
it should not be considered as a replacement for microscopic examination, since other potential pathogens could otherwise
escape detection. |
| |
Keywords: | |
本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|