Low sensitivity of the ImmunocardSTAT Crypto/Giardia Rapid Assay test for the detection of and in fecal samples from children living in Libreville, Central Africa.

Giardiasis and cryptosporidiosis are now recognized as neglected tropical parasitic diseases. The risk of their dissemination  in developing countries, such as Gabon, is increasing, due to urban crowding and poor sanitation. Accurate, simple and rapid diagnosis tools are thus necessary for the estimation of their real burden. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performances of the ImmunocardSTAT Rapid Assay test for the detection of () spp. and () in children living in Libreville, Gabon. Stool samples of 173 healthy children were screened by routine microscopic using the merthiolate iodine formol concentration technique for , the modified Ziehl Neelsen (ZN) staining for and the ImmunocardSTAT Crypto/Giardia RDT for the detection of and parasite forms and antigens respectively. was detected with microscopy and the ImmunocardSTAT Crypto/Giardia in 27 (15.6 %) and 22 (13.3 %) fecal samples respectively. spp. oocysts were found in 18 (10.4 %) ones, whereas only one sample was positive with the immunochromatographic assay. When microscopic examination was considered as the reference method, sensitivity and specificity of the ImmunocardSTAT Crypto/Giardia Rapid Assay were found to be 63.0 %, 96.6 and 5.5 %, 99.3 % for and spp. respectively. The prevalence of and spp. carriage is high in children from Libreville. A low sensitivity of the ImmunocardSTAT Crypto/Giardia for the detection of both parasites is observed. It is thus inappropriate as a diagnostic tool for detecting asymptomatic carriers.