Evaluation of the role of combined prebiotic and probiotic supplements as prophylactic and therapeutic agents against experimental giardiasis

Abstract

INTRODUCTIONGiardia is one of the most prevalent intestinal flagellated protozoans that causes diarrhea in both children and adults [1] . Giardiasis has a worldwide distribution with a higher incidence rate in developing countries than developed ones and a higher infection rate in children than adults [2] . In certain localities in Egypt, the prevalence of giardiasis is up to 30.2%, a fact that makes Egypt a hyper-endemic region according to the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria [3] . Giardiasis is transmitted via the fecal-oral route through direct or indirect ingestion of cysts. Symptoms of infection vary from asymptomatic to acute steatorrhea, nausea, epigastric pain, and weight loss [1] . Post-infection complications may arise after Giardia elimination in the form of stunting, failure to thrive, chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, allergies and arthritis [4] .The host defense against giardiasis includes both innate and adaptive immune responses that act in synchrony to control the infection. Innate immune mechanisms are the first line of defense against