Giardia
lamblia (aka Lamblia intestinalis)
Giardia
lamblia is, a protozoa,
that moves with the aid of five flagella and causes
Giardiasis
Human
giardiasis may involve diarrhea within 1 week of ingestion
of the cyst, which is the environmental survival form and
infective stage of giardia.
Illness
lasts 1 to 2 weeks, but there are cases of chronic infections
lasting months to years. Chronic cases are difficult to treat.
Different individuals show various
degrees of symptoms when infected with the same strain, and
the symptoms of an individual may vary during the course of
the disease. Ingestion of one more cysts may cause disease.
Giardia
lamblia is frequently
diagnosed by seeing the organism, either the trophozoite form
or the cyst (the resting stage that is resistant to adverse
environmental conditions with a microscope. A commercial fluorescent
antibody kit is available to stain the organism.. An enzyme
linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) that detects excretory
secretory products of the organism is also available. Giardiasis
is frequently associated with the consuming contaminated water
and food. Five outbreaks have been traced to food contamination
by infected or infested food. Cool moist conditions favor
the survival of the organism.
Giardiasis
is more prevalent in children than in adults, possibly because
many individuals seem to have a lasting immunity after infection.
This organism is implicated in 25% of the cases of gastrointestinal
disease and may be present asymptomatically. The overall incidence
of infection in the United States is estimated at 2% of the
population. This disease also afflicts many homosexual men,
both HIV-positive and HIV-negative individuals. This is presumed
to be due to sexual transmission. The disease is also common
in child day care centres, especially when diapering is done.
Chronic
infections lead to a malabsorption syndrome and severe weight
loss. And are resistant to drug treatment. Flagyl is normally
quite effective in terminating infections.
Giardia Beaver fever links
responsiblewildlifemanagement.org
http://www.responsiblewildlifemanagement.org/beaver_fever.htm
outdoorplaces.com
http://www.outdoorplaces.com/Features/Backcountry/giardia/
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