Premium
The intensity, but not the prevalence, of Giardia infection is associated with anthropometry in rural Guatemalan day‐care centers
Author(s) -
Duffy TerriLynn,
MontenegroBethancourt Gabriela,
Arriaga Claudia,
Belosevic Miodrag,
Solomons Noel W,
Clandinin M Thomas
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.25.1_supplement.770.28
Background The relationship between growth and asymptomatic infestation with Giardia intestinalis, common in the day‐care center settings, has been inconsistent. Objective To determine any association between anthropometry and the prevalence and/or intensity of giardial coproantigen in stools. Methods A total of 48 preschoolers, 18 to 87 mo, from rural day‐care centers around Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, delivered 1 or 2 fecal samples. Giardial coproantigen was measured by the ProSpecT Giardia EZ Microplate ELISA method (Remel, Lenexa, Kansas, USA), with an established absorbance cutoff as the diagnosis criterion; absorbance values above that comprised an intensity scale. Ht, wt and age data were available. Results 43.8% of examinees were positive for giardiasis. Chi‐square analysis with above vs below median status for WAZ, HAZ and WHZ on the Y‐axis and coproantigen status on the X‐axis revealed no significant associations. Spearman r values for the positive ELISA absorbance values (n=21) with the Z‐scores were −0.32 for WAZ, (p=0.08 by 1‐tailed test); −0.26 for HAZ (p>0.10); and −0.08 for WHZ (p>0.10). Conclusions In this setting, greater underweight tended toward increasing the Giardia intensity. Funded by Alberta Livestock Industry Development Fund.