Giardiasis is one of the types of invasions that people, mammals, and birds can suffer. Certain types of examinations can help identify this problem, for example, a blood test for antibodies to giardia. The article tells what it is.
Microcosm and people
In the human body there are many representatives of the microworld, from bacteria to helminths, although some of the latter are very difficult to attribute to microscopic creatures, for example, tapeworm. And if bacteria can be both useful, necessary for the implementation of certain processes in the structures of the body, and harmful, then helminths always bring only problems. They settle in many organs, tissues and fluids, using the intestines and other human organs as a source of substances necessary for them to exist and reproduce. At the same time, the person himself does not receive the useful components that enter and are produced by the body, he is poisoned by the vital products of the parasites. So all helminths must be disposed of in a timely manner, and it is best to prevent infection by them.
Giardia - what is it?
In some cases, patients are prescribed tests during the examination, which allow to establish total antibodies to giardia. But what is lamblia, where can they be found and what harm can they do to the human body? These microorganisms belong to the species of eukaryotes, more precisely, to the genus of flagellate protist. There are several species that parasitize in the intestines of humans, mammals, birds. These parasites got their name by the name of the Czech anatomist Vilem Dusan Lambl, who discovered these micro-pests in 1859.
By the structure of their body, lamblia resemble an inverted pear, equipped with four pairs of flagella, with which they move. These parasites are anaerobes, that is, they feel great without oxygen. In the small intestines, they attach to the microvilli and feed on digested food. Once in the large intestine, they transform into the form of cysts and go out with feces. Then the cycle repeats, because chlorine does not act on giardia, and therefore they can safely exist until a favorable moment, even in chlorinated water. Only boiling kills them instantly.
The danger of giardiasis
Antibodies to Giardia are an indicator of their presence in the human body. It is necessary to get rid of these pests because they cause enormous damage to the body. For invasion by these parasites, there is a specific name for the disease - giardiasis. It is expressed in violation of these helminths, especially parasitizing in large quantities, of the intestinal motor function, impaired absorption of nutrients from food. Large accumulations of giardia fixed on the walls of the small intestine can even cause mechanical irritation of the intestine. At the same time, treatment for helminthiasis, which causes mass death of giardia, is associated with intoxication with the products of their decay.
Most often children suffer from giardiasis, from about three months. But for adults, this disease is not uncommon, because chlorine and short-term heating to 60 ° C do not act on these parasites. And therefore, they in the form of cysts are quite tenacious in a free environment, and even chlorinated but unboiled water can cause infection with giardia. An analysis such as blood for antibodies to giardia allows you to identify the cause of disorders in the intestines and deterioration of well-being.
Symptoms of Invasion
Like any helminthiasis, giardiasis causes many health problems. Experts have identified four main forms of this disease:
- Intestinal, manifested by a disorder of the intestinal functional, gastroenteritis, duodenitis, duodeno-gastric reflux and enteritis.
- Biliary-pancreatic, determined by biliary dyskinesia, cholangitis, cholecystitis and / or reactive pancreatitis.
- Extraintestinal, characterized by such conditions as astheno-neurotic syndrome, neurocirculatory dystonia, toxic-allergic reactions.
- Mixed form.
Assigning an analysis that can show total antibodies to giardia, the specialist determines the cause of failures in the patient’s body.
How to recognize giardiasis?
Making any diagnosis includes interviewing a patient, prescribing traditional and additional tests, instrumental and hardware examinations. Complaints of malaise, disturbances in the gastrointestinal tract can be symptoms of a huge number of diseases, including all helminthiases. The following examinations help determine their type and identify a specific problem:
- fecal analysis, since most helminths live in the intestine;
- a blood test to identify the direction of the problem search;
- study of duodenal contents.
An analysis of feces in cases of suspected giardiasis, the patient will have to pass with a frequency of 5-7 days, as these parasites leave the small intestine for reproduction with a certain regularity, and not constantly. Confirm the preliminary diagnosis helps a blood test that determines antibodies to Giardia antigens. This is a necessary procedure that helps to determine not only the presence of giardia, but also the degree of infection, and the area of their distribution.
Health indicator
Helminthiasis tests should be taken regularly, because parasitic ailments can create a lot of health problems. One type of examination is antibodies to giardia. A blood test is a standard procedure that helps determine the direction of further examination for an accurate diagnosis.
All blood components must be in a certain equilibrium. Failure in one direction or another of specific components, as well as their combinations, help a specialist diagnose a disease or existing pathology. So a blood test for antibodies to giardia helps to establish exactly the reason that caused disturbances in the functioning of some body systems and its intoxication.
What are antibodies?
These are special protein compounds - immunoglobulins that arise as a result of the body’s reaction to the penetration of various pathogens - bacteria, viruses, helminths, fungi, which are perceived by the body as something foreign. These substances serve as peculiar markers of those diseases that a person encounters throughout life. Scientists have identified several types of blood antibodies that characterize the cause of the disease. Antibodies bind to antigens that have penetrated the body through special centers, then block the propagation of pests and work as one of the components of humoral immunity. So the role of blood antibodies is very significant.
For many patients with giardiasis, the question of what it means - antibodies to giardia is interesting and important. In this case, we are talking about a substance that arises from the presence in the body of unwanted guests - helminths from the diplonadid squad.
How to get tested for antibodies?
Any analysis is carried out in order to compare it with normal indicators of the same substance. It is through such an analysis that total antibodies to giardia antigens are determined.
This study is able to show immunoglobulins of two types M (IgM) and G (IgG), which will serve as eloquent evidence of giardiasis. Correctly, it is called enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
Blood sampling for such a study is made from a vein. During the appointment of the examination, the patient is indicated on how to properly prepare for him. Eight hours before visiting the laboratory, you should not eat or drink anything except filtered water without additives. For a day, you should stop drinking alcohol. If the patient takes any medications that can affect the result of the study, then the drugs must be stopped one week before blood sampling in order to test for antibodies to giardia. Another condition for a reliable result will be smoking cessation 40-50 minutes before blood sampling.
On average, a blood test for antibodies to giardia is ready after three days. It is read by a specialist and, based on its results, the patient undergoes additional examination, if necessary, and receives treatment recommendations.
Giardia and analysis results
Like any antigens, parasites leave their mark in the human body. The same applies to such helminths as giardia. The igm and igg antibodies detected by invasion by these micro-pests help a specialist determine the duration of infection and the degree of their spread in the body.
All information obtained during the study of blood taken from a patient is entered in a special form. The main result will be either positive or negative. Negative speaks for itself - at the moment, giardiasis is not detected in humans. If the result is positive, then the decryption indicates certain characteristics:
- the type of antibody detected in the analysis is IgM or IgG antibody;
- titer (quantitative indicator);
- optical density;
- coefficient of positivity.
What do they mean? IgM antibodies indicate an acute form of invasion after infection about a month ago. The presence of antibodies such as IgG indicates that the disease has acquired a chronic form or that the disease has already been, and the person has developed immunity to it.
The titer is also called the equilibrium point. Quantitative indicator 1/100 - this is a dubious result, requiring a re-analysis. If it is indicated less than 1/100, then infection is not detected, and if it is more than 1/100, then this confirms the presence of invasion.
An indicator such as the coefficient of positivity determines the density of antibodies per 1 unit of blood. Data of 0.85 or more indicate the presence of giardiasis in the patient.
Optical density also illustrates the concentration of immunoglobulins. But avidity helps determine the time of infection, since it determines the strength of the bond of immunoglobulins (antibodies) with the antigens of the infection.
A specialist must fully decrypt the results of the analysis, who, if necessary, will prescribe additional examination and treatment.
Additional research
Positive antibodies to giardia require further examination. For example, analysis of feces for lamblia cysts. It is handed over several times, with a frequency of 4-5 days, since the rhythm of life of these helminths does not allow to detect their presence on any day.
For such a study, there are requirements: feces are delivered to the laboratory no later than 40 minutes after a bowel movement. Also, a patient who is prescribed to take feces for Giardia cysts should not eat smoked meats or spicy foods for 10-12 hours before analysis. You should stop taking antiparasitic drugs 10 days before the first test is submitted.
If giardiasis in the early stages was not diagnosed and took a severe chronic form, parasites can be located not only in the intestine, but also in the bile ducts and the gallbladder itself. So the cause of cholelithiasis, cholecystitis can be these parasites, on which stagnant bile begins to crystallize and turn into calculi. In such cases, the patient is prescribed fibrogastroduodenoscopy.
The procedure is unpleasant - within two hours from the duodenum, bile ejected by the gallbladder is collected, which is then examined for the presence of giardia. Also, this technique allows you to determine the activity of the said organ.
Another way to diagnose giardiasis and other infestations is through a biopsy of the intestinal wall. This examination is used in rare cases due to the high morbidity.
Combined therapy of giardiasis
If the tests revealed antibodies to giardia, then we can talk about the need for high-quality therapy of the existing invasion. Giardiasis should be treated only on the recommendation and under the supervision of a doctor, since dead parasites cause active intoxication of the human body. Treatment of invasion is carried out in several stages:
- Switching to a low-carb diet to create an unfavorable environment in the intestines for parasites that eat digested foods, mainly carbohydrates
- Therapy with antiparasitic agents active against giardia, for example, Metronidazole, Nimorazol, Furazolidone.
- Cleansing the intestines with the help of enterosorbents from dead parasites, for example, taking activated charcoal.
- Restorative therapy, which involves taking vitamin-mineral complexes and normalizing intestinal microflora preparations.
Specific medicines for each position are prescribed only by the attending physician.
Caution Giardiasis!
Parasites literally pursue a person, waiting for him at almost every step. The stage of infection and the development of micro-pests of the new "home" is practically invisible. But the consequences of invasion can be very dangerous for health. That is why prevention should be in the first place.
Antibodies to Giardia are only an indicator that a person has unnecessary, dangerous neighbors in his body. Elementary rules of personal hygiene, compliance with the regimes of heat treatment of food and water will help to avoid getting to know both lamblia and other helminths, viruses, bacteria and fungi, as well as eliminate the need to take medications that have many side effects.