PREVALENCE OF GIARDIA LAMBLIA INFECTION IN CHILDREN AND CALVES IN BANGLADESH

Abstract

Giardia lamblia is highly infectious protozoan parasite capable of causing gastrointestinal illness in both humans and animals. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of Giardia lamblia infection in children < 5 years old and calves. Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) has been used for the detection of Giardia lamblia. A total of 266 children and 15 calves diarrheic fecal samples were tested for Giardia lamblia during January 2011 to May 2012. The prevalence of Giardia lamblia infection among children was 3.8% while 13.3% in calves. Giardia lamblia was highest in children between 24 and 60 months of age (8.7%). Giardia lamblia infection was higher in male (4.7%) than in female (2.0%). Male calves (14.3%) have slightly higher prevalence than female calves (12.5%). The highest prevalence (33.3%) of Giardia lamblia infection in calves was between the ages 6 and 9 months. This is the first study to determine the prevalence of Giardia lamblia infection in calves using ELISA method in Bangladesh. A larger scale study is needed for accurate estimates of prevalence of Giardia lamblia to undertake an appropriate control strategy in future.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjvm.v9i2.13474