Exploring challenges in <i>Giardia</i> cyst visualisation by common microscopy methods

Abstract Giardia spp. is an intestinal parasite responsible for worldwide disease outbreaks. Guiding researchers and practitioners to choose among current methods microscopy detection of the infectious forms may be directly beneficial public health environment. This study provides overall comparison brightfield (BF), fluorescence darkfield (DF) microscopies detecting duodenalis muris cysts, by illustrating micrographs such protocols applied purified samples, as well discussing advantages constraints based on secondary information collected data. BF analysis included Lugol's iodine staining. In microscopy, samples were processed immunofluorescence assay (IFA) with DAPI standalone dye. Cyst suspensions also analysed DF using a recently developed low-cost system. The three techniques enabled although they did not provide species identification morphology. overview each method points out some relevant aspects consider when selecting common optical techniques, includes challenges regarding them.