Serum immunoglobulin levels in giardiasis.

Giardiasis is a common disease of the small intestine of man caused by the flagellated protozoan parasite. The influence of host immunity on infection and on modulating its clinical course remains uncertain. Infection in some hosts may be short lived and spontaneously self-limited, while in others it may result in prolonged debilitating illness. Though specific antibody msponse occurs in the host following G. lamblia infection, the immune alteration especially at the gut level which allows the parasite to colonize, multiply and damage the brush border membrane are ill understood. Local immune factors responsible for elimination of parasite are not clear. Susceptibility to giardiasis has been closely miated to the immunological status of the host. Increased incidence of giardiasis has been reported in adults having low levels of immunoglobulins. This study was done to determine serum immunoglobulin levels in giardiasis.