in vitro culture and isoenzyme analysis of giardia lamblia

Balazs and Szatloczky (1978) reported a rare form of G./amblia infection in a
patient who presented with a clinical picture of nutritive allergy. An acute
hypersensitivity syndrome consisting of urticaria, polyarthropathy and eosinophilia
occurring in association with G./amblia was documented by Farthing et al. (1983).
Perez et al. (1994) have also reported the association of the above two clinical
conditions. Other extraintestinal manifestations of giardiasis have been
documented. For example, a more recent study by Corsi et al. (1998) has shown
that giardiasis can also cause ocular complications in the form of asymptomatic,
non-progressive retinal lesions. These retinal complications were particularly
common in younger children with the disease and were detected in both hosts with
active and/or past Giardia infections. The retinal changes have not been
associated with Giardia toxin. The authors suggested that they are more than
likely caused by immune mechanisms.
Although rare, fatal cases of giardiasis have been documented. For example,
Ryder et al. (1985) reported eight fatal cases of diarrhoea, one of which was
associated with G./amblia.
1.7 Risk Factors For Giardiasis
1.7.1 Age and immune status of the individual
Humans of all ages are susceptible to Giardia infections; however, some factors
appear to predispose certain individuals within some populations to increased risk
of infection. High prevalence levels have been reported in children in many
countries; this predisposition usually rapidly declines with increasing age.
Prevalence among adults is usually less than 10% and peak prevalence occurs
27