Abstract
Introduction: Protozoan infections cause a major part of morbidity in developing countries with poor sanitation and water systems. One of the most prominent protozoan infections is Giardia intestinalis, which is a well-known intestinal infectious agent, triggering a host of gastrointestinal problems and malabsorption syndromes, the infection causing structural and functional changes to the intestinal mucosa. These changes to the intestinal mucosa result malabsorption of critical nutrients, such as iron, folate, and the vitamin B12. The study aims to identify the changes in some of hematological and biochemical parameters pertaining to anemia.
Methods: A 200 fecal samples were examinate from both sex (100 male and 100 female) in the same ages to reveal a G. intestinalis infection. The patients were classified into four groups: G. intestinalis infection, Anemia persons, G. intestinalis infection and anemia together, and healthy persons as a control; then a blood samples were collected from the forth groups, that attending to parasitological lab. At General health laboratories in Holy Karbala Province – Iraq, from October 2025 until March 2026. A five ml of blood samples were taken and divided into two parts: 2 ml of each sample placed in coagulant tubes and the remaining (3 ml) placed in anticoagulant tubes. The samples were measured and evaluated the mean ± SD and LSD test at P ≤ 0.05 for hematological parameters (RBC, Hb, PCV, MCH, MCHC and WBCs), and some biochemical markers related with Hematopoiesis: Vit. D3 ., Vit. B12 ., Ferritin and serum iron.
Results: The results showed G. intestinalis infection effect on hematological parameters and biochemical markers related with hematopoiesis. Anemia in both male and female patients infected with Giardia and even some patients who did not present with anemia showed a reduction in RBC, Hb and PCV compared to the control group. Biochemical analysis showed that the infected and anemic group had low values of serum iron, ferritin and vitamin B12 compared to the control group, who had higher levels. Vitamin D3 levels were also showed a lower values in the group with G. intestinalis infection plus anemia compared with control group.
Conclusion: The study suggests that infection with G. intestinalis causes notable changes in some of hematological and biochemical parameters pertaining to anemia. These changes mirror the relationships between intestinal protozoan infection with blood parameters and nutrient absorption. Even in some patients the combination of G. intestinalis infection with anemia presented with the most changes in some parameters. All this changes and the already existing altered blood biochemical and hematological parameters in patients with giardiasis underline the infection’s complications.