Comparison of Sensitivity of Sucrose Gradient, Wet Mount and Formalin - Ether in Detecting Protozoan Giardia lamblia in Stool Specimens of BALB/c Mice

Giardia lamblia is an intestinal protozoan parasite; hence, to diagnose the cyst, it is necessary to find a reliable, simpler and less expensive diagnostic method in the laboratory. Therefore, in order to choose a more sensitive, cheaper and applicable diagnostic method in the laboratory ; three methods, namely, sucrose gradient, wet mount and formalin-ether in fecal samples from BALB/c mice infected with the protozoan Giardia, were studied. In this diagnostic laboratory study, 200 stool samples from infected mice (BALB/c) with Giardia were studied. Stool specimens from three direct smear method, formalin-ether and sucrose were prepared. A total of 200 specimens for each method were prepared and examined by microscope. Furthermore, it enhanced the accuracy check at each stage; the feces of healthy mice were used as negative controls for comparison. Stool examination revealed G. lamblia cysts in mice infected BALB/c from 200 samples for each method. In the direct method, formalin - ether and sucrose gradient, 101 (55.00%), 166 (83.00%) and 180 (94.00%) cases were positive respectively. Therefore, the sucrose method has demonstrated the highest sensitivity (94.00%), compared to other methods. According to the results of this study, sucrose is a sensitive method for high-throughput and cost-effective diagnostic method, than previous methods. Therefore, sucrose method is suggested suitable and can be used in place of formalin-ether. Given their potency, the sucrose gradient may be recommended to undergo futher studies.