We evaluated the performance of an immunochromatographic assay (ICA) in comparison with light microscopy and PCR for the detection of Giardia duodenalis in stool samples from 558 Rwandan children. The association of infection with clinical symptoms was similar for the three diagnostic tools. The ICA equally detected parasites of assemblages A and B and was more sensitive than light microscopy (50.4 versus 29.5% of PCR-positive samples considered true positive; p <0.0001). Hence, the ICA shows superior sensitivity compared with microscopy but still misses half of the G. duodenalis infections detected by PCR in this hyperendemic area.
Keywords: Genotypes; Giardia duodenalis; PCR; Rwanda; immunochromatography; microscopy.
© 2014 The Authors Clinical Microbiology and Infection © 2014 European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases.