FEASIBILITY OF A RAPID LATERAL FLOW TEST FOR SIMULTANEOUS DETECTION OF GIARDIA LAMBLIA AND CRYPTOSPORIDIUM PARVUM IN DUODENAL ASPIRATES OF PATIENTS SUFFERING FROM CHRONIC LIVER DISEASES AND ELIGIBLE FOR UPPER ENDOSCOPY

Chronic liver diseases (CLDs) represent an important health issue in developing countries andare commonly associated with impaired immunity. This increases the susceptibility to various infectiousagents including parasitic infections, which should be properly managed to avoid lifethreatening complications. This study assessed the feasibility of rapid, easy and applicablescreening test for Giardia and Cryptosporidium within 150 CLDs patients suitable for upper endoscopicexamination. Stool samples, duodenal aspirates and duodenal biopsies were examinedfor G. lamblia and C. parvum by different diagnostic techniques. The results showed stool microscopy(13.3% & 7.3%), duodenal aspirate microscopy (5.3% & 4.7%), rapid lateral flow immune-chromatographic assay (RLFIA) applied on duodenal aspirate samples (16.7% & 10%),duodenal biopsies histopathological examination (6.7% & 5.3%) and direct fluorescent antigendetection in stools (16.7% & 9.3%) for giardiasis and cryptosporidiosis respectively. The highsensitivity of lateral flow immune-chromatographic assay in detecting Giardia and Cryptosporidiumin duodenal fluid samples proved a good screening test for these patients.