ENTAMOEBA-HISTOLYTICA AND GIARDIA-LAMBLIA INFECTIONS - CURRENT DIAGNOSTIC STRATEGIES

Entamoeba histolytica and Giardia lamblia constitute, in a world conte xt, the two commonest intestinal protozoan parasites to affect man. Th erefore accurate diagnosis is of paramount importance if resultant inf ections ore to be adequately managed. Demonstration of the cyst or tro phozoite stage in a faecal sample(s) (several newer techniques are ava ilable) remains the lynch-pin of diagnostic strategies; however, excre tion of cysts, especially, is intermittent and evidence of infection i s not always manifest in a single examination. A limited range of othe r techniques is also available for a 'parasitological diagnosis'. With in the last decade, serological techniques (largely dependent on invas ive properties of the organism) have attained levels of diagnostic com petence. Therefore, a very high index of suspicion now ensues from ind irect evidence of infection.