Laboratory techniques for diagnosing Giardia parasite in dogs in Mosul City, Iraq

Abstract

The results of the current study showed that the different techniques of microscopic examination recorded the highest rate of infection and diagnosis of Giardia in dogs with significant differences at the level of probability p<0.05 It reached 73.4%, followed by the rapid test technique and indirect enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with a rate of 14.2% and 12.2% respectively. With regard to determining the sensitivity and specificity of the rapid test and microscopic examination, a sensitivity of 19% and a specificity of 100% were recorded. The results, using the indirect ELISA showed an infection rate of 12.2% of the total samples. The results showed that the number of positive samples with this technique amounted to 12 samples positive for Giardia lamblia out of the total samples positive for microscopic examination. To confirm the diagnosis of giardiasis, the results using the direct immunofluorescence technique using acridine orange fluorochrome showed the appearance of a glowing brilliance, as the cysts appeared oval green glowing and the trophozoites appeared glowing green pear.