Giardia is a tiny parasite (germ) that causes the diarrheal disease giardiasis. Giardia is found on surfaces or in soil, food, or water that has been contaminated with feces (poop) from infected people or animals. You can get giardiasis if you swallow Giardia germs.
Is Giardia a pathogen?
Giardia lamblia as an intestinal pathogen .
What pathogen causes Giardia?
Causal Agent. Giardia duodenalis is a protozoan flagellate (Diplomonadida) . This protozoan was initially named Cercomonas intestinalis by Lambl in 1859. It was renamed Giardia lamblia by Stiles in 1915 in honor of Professor A.
Is Giardia non pathogenic?
The symptoms of giardiasis are not pathognomonic . The patient’s history may indicate recent exposure to Giardia, but the infection is diagnosed, as in most parasitic infections, by identifying the organism. In the case of giardiasis, cysts are found in formed stool. Diarrheal specimens may also contain trophozoites.
Is Giardia a pathogenic protozoa?
Giardia lamblia and C. parvum are the most common pathogenic intestinal protozoan parasites and causative agents of persistent diarrhea in humans [6]. In the United States and in Europe, the annual incidences for the two parasitoses are around 10 4 each.
What does giardia poop look like in humans?
Watery, sometimes foul-smelling diarrhea that may alternate with soft, greasy stools. Fatigue. Stomach cramps and bloating. Gas.
What color is Giardia poop?
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 you see Giardia 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 .
What is the best medicine for Giardia?
Medication Options
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.
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.
What is the incubation period for Giardia?
Acute giardiasis develops after an incubation period of 1 to 14 days (average of 7 days) and usually lasts 1 to 3 weeks. Symptoms include diarrhea, abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, and vomiting. In chronic giardiasis the symptoms are recurrent and malabsorption and debilitation may occur.
What is the most common mode of transmission of intestinal flagellates?
Intestinal protozoa are transmitted by the fecal-oral route and tend to exhibit similar life cycles consisting of a cyst stage and a trophozoite stage (Figure). Fecal-oral transmission involves the ingestion of food or water contaminated with cysts.
What is the life cycle of Giardia during transmission of giardiasis?
Giardia has one of the simplest life cycles of all human parasites. The life cycle is composed of 2 stages: (1) the trophozoite (see the first image below), which exists freely in the human small intestine; and (2) the cyst, which is passed into the environment . No intermediate hosts are required.
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.
How does Giardia enter the body?
Humans acquire Giardia through ingestion of infective Giardia cysts in contaminated drinking water (or anything else contaminated with infected fecal matter). Excystment occurs when the cyst reaches the small intestine. After traveling to the large intestine Giardia can encyst.
How is Giardia detected?
Healthcare providers can order laboratory tests to identify Giardia germs in the stool (poop) of someone who is sick. Sometimes it can be difficult for doctors to know for sure if Giardia is making you sick. This is because people with a Giardia infection do not pass Giardia germs with every stool.
