Crohn's disease is frequently complicated by giardiasis.

Giardiasis is a common infection, and many of its symptoms are similar to those of Crohn's disease. Despite a long discussion on the role of microbiologic agents in Crohn's disease, giardiasis has never been investigated. We studied giardiasis as assessed by the occurrence of cysts in 86 patients with Crohn's disease, in 82 patients with other gastrointestinal disease, and in 52 patients without gastrointestinal disease.

[Visceral larva migrans infections caused by toxocara species (author's transl)].

A total of 4656 serum samples from suspect persons were investigated for Toxocara antibodies over the last 10 years. Using the Ouchterlony technique antibodies were demonstrated in 707 cases, and in 409 cases with the help of the microprecipitation test using secondary larvae. It was shown that the living larva test is highly specific and very sensitive so that a positive reaction can be taken as definite evidence of infection.

[Human larva migrans visceralis infections with toxocara in the German Federal Republic. Serological investigations (author's transl)].

The microprecipitation test on second generation larvae of Toxocara canis has proved to be highly specific for the diagnosis of human larva migrans visceralis infection caused by Toxocara species. Out of a total of 2864 samples examined from 1969 to 1976, 248 were found to be positive. Besides a very frequently occurring eosinophilia eye affections, lung changes and involvement of the CNS are prominent clinical symptoms.