Comparison of iron and some hematological parameters between patients with Giardia lamblia and healthy control

Abstract

Giardia lamblia, a protozoan parasite featuring flagella .and binucleation, is capable of infecting a diverse range of mammalian hosts. The incidence of human giardiasis, a veritable cosmopolitan pathogen, is most pronounced in developing nations. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the impact of an infection caused by the Giardia lamblia parasite on iron levels and various hematological parameters in patients. the study conducted between August 2022 and February 2023, blood samples were collected from people who were infected and non-infected with Giardia lamblia to evaluate the element iron and some blood indicators and the extent to which they were affected by infection. 60 blood samples (36 males and 24 females) were taken from people infected with Giardia, and 30 blood samples (15 males and 15 females) were taken from healthy people (controls). The infection was diagnosed by a direct smear and cultured in the laboratory. The control group underwent both clinical and laboratory examinations to confirm the absence of any disease. The findings of the present investigation exhibit a noteworthy reduction in the average levels of serum iron (SI)., mean number of red blood cells (RBC), hemoglobin (Hb), and percentage of the packed cell volume (PCV) in people with the disease compared to healthy subjects, while a significant increase in the mean of the total number of white blood cells (WBC) was recorded in patients compared to healthy subjects. Individuals with Giardia labmlia may exhibit notable changes in several hematological factors. Routine assessment of hematological factors is necessary for timely detection and effective treatment of giardiasis.