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Giardiasis in children attending daycare centers in Guatemala and the therapeutic potential of ganglioside

Intestinal enteropathy is a prevalent yet neglected aspect of child malnutrition
involving chronic exposure to intestinal pathogens such as Giardia intestinalis. Gangliosides have therapeutic potential for the treatment of giardiasis and intestinal enteropathy. The objectives of the thesis were to 1. assess the Giardia carriage patterns in daycares in Guatemala, 2. compare anthropometric data between Giardia carriers and non-carriers, 3. compare sensitivity and specificity of 3 Giardia diagnostic methods (ProSpecT-Giardia-EZ-Microplate assay, RidaQuick Giardia dipsticks and microscopic analysis using the sucrose concentration gradient method). Giardia prevalence rates were high (close to 44%), most cases of infection were chronic (5-week study period), and malnutrition (lower weight-for-age Z-scores) may be associated to higher intensity of infection. ELISA was the most sensitive Giardia diagnostic test. Compared to ELISA, the microscopic and dipstick analysis had sensitivities of 53.6% and 60.7%, and specificities of 100% and 97.9%, respectively, within a set of 75 stool samples. / Nutrition & Metabolism

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:AEU.10048/1853
Date06 1900
CreatorsDuffy, Terri-Lynn
ContributorsClandinin, MT (Agricultural, Food & Nutritional Science), Solomons, Noel W. (Center for Studies of Sensory Impairment, Aging and Metabolism), Belosevic, Mike (Biological Sciences), Clandinin, MT (Agricultural, Food & Nutritional Science), Solomons, Noel W. (Center for Studies of Sensory Impairment, Aging and Metabolism), Belosevic, Mike (Biological Sciences), Mazurak, Vera (Agricultural, Food & Nutritional Science)
Source SetsLibrary and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeThesis
Format11687174 bytes, application/pdf

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