Giardia trophozoites
Can a Giardia reproduce?
Giardia
reproduce by binary fission
and must be attached to a surface for this to occur. Giardia’s main food source, glucose, is obtained by a process of diffusion or by pinocytosis. Like amoebae, they are aerotolerant anaerobes and require a reducing environment.
Does Giardia reproduce sexually or asexually?
The protist Giardia has long been considered
strictly asexual
. Now genes specific for meiotic recombination have been found in the Giardia genome, but their consequences for genetics, epidemiology and evolution remain unknown.
How fast does Giardia reproduce?
The trophozoites
How Giardia is contracted?
Giardia spreads easily and can spread from person to person or through contaminated water, food, surfaces, or objects. The most common way people get sick is by
swallowing contaminated drinking water or recreational water
(for example, lakes, rivers, or pools). Find answers to frequently asked questions about Giardia.
Can you see Giardia cysts in stool?
People commonly get giardiasis from swallowing the parasite in untreated water. Giardiasis travels in even trace amounts of infected stool (poop) — amounts so
small you can’t see it
.
Can humans catch Giardia?
How do you get giardiasis and how is it spread?
You can get giardiasis if you swallow the Giardia parasite (germ)
. Giardia—or poop from people or animals infected with Giardia—can contaminate anything it touches. Giardia spreads very easily; even getting tiny amounts of poop in your mouth could make you sick.
What does Giardia poop look like?
The stool may range from
soft to watery, often has a greenish tinge to it
, and occasionally contains blood. Infected dogs tend to have excess mucus in the feces. Vomiting may occur in some cases. The signs may persist for several weeks and gradual weight loss may become apparent.
Can I get Giardia from my dog licking me?
No. Giardia is found in dogs, cats, and most wild animals (e.g., ducks, geese, raccoons, squirrels).
It can also be transmitted to humans
(letting an affected dog lick your face), so it’s important that everyone in the family follow safety precautions.
Where do Giardia reproduce?
Giardia trophozoites
What happens if Giardia is left untreated?
If left untreated, Giardia will eventually lead to more acute symptoms, including
bloody diarrhea, weight loss, and dehydration
. If you or your child experience a bout of diarrhea lasting more than a day or two, contact your doctor immediately.
What is the only way to get rid of Giardia?
When signs and symptoms are severe or the infection persists, doctors usually treat giardia infection with medications such as:
Metronidazole (Flagyl)
. Metronidazole is the most commonly used antibiotic for giardia infection. Side effects may include nausea and a metallic taste in the mouth.
Can you have Giardia for years?
Occasionally, people with giardiasis will have long-term complications such as reactive arthritis, irritable bowel syndrome, and recurring diarrhea that
can last for years
. Among children in particular, severe giardiasis may delay physical and mental growth, slow development, and cause malnutrition.
Is Giardia hard to get rid of?
Giardia
is hard to eliminate from the environment
, but there are things you can do to lower the chances of your pet getting sick again, and to help you and your family stay healthy: Always remove poop from your yard or other outdoor areas by using a bag and throwing it away.
Can Giardia come back after treatment?
Recurrence of symptoms — After being treated for Giardia and seeing symptoms improve,
some people experience a relapse
. This can happen because people are still infected with Giardia or because of changes in the intestine that cause heightened sensitivity to certain foods.
What is the best medicine for Giardia?
Several drugs can be used to treat Giardia infection. Effective treatments include
metronidazole, tinidazole, and nitazoxanide
. Other medications include paromomycin, quinacrine, and furazolidone. Some of these drugs may not be readily available in the United States.
