Is Giardia zoonotic to humans?
One species within this genus, Giardia duodenalis (syn. Giardia lamblia and Giardia intestinalis), causes giardiasis in humans and most mammals. Thus, giardiasis is considered a zoonotic disease.
Which assemblage of Giardia is zoonotic?
Detection of assemblage E in humans suggests a new zoonotic route of Giardia transmission.
What is the most common source of Giardia lamblia outbreaks?
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).
Can you get Giardia from farm animals?
There is evidence that both parasites are zoonotic, as humans have been infected with Giardia spp. from animals (9) and cryptosporidiosis in humans has been linked to infected calves (10) and household pets (11). Outbreaks of both parasites in humans have been attributed to agriculture effluent from livestock (12,13).
What is the epidemiology of giardiasis?
Prevalence rates for giardiasis are generally reported to be 2 to 7 percent in developed countries [4]. Worldwide, G. lamblia is the third most common agent of diarrheal disease in children <5 (after rotavirus and Cryptosporidium spp); >300 million cases are reported annually [5].
What causes giardiasis in humans?
Giardiasis is an infection in your small intestine. It’s caused by a microscopic parasite called Giardia lamblia. Giardiasis spreads through contact with infected people. And you can get giardiasis by eating contaminated food or drinking contaminated water.
What is the etiological agent of Giardia?
Giardiasis is caused by the flagellate protozoan Giardia intestinalis (formerly known as G lamblia) . Infection is transmitted through ingestion of infectious G lamblia cysts.
Where is Giardia most commonly found?
Giardia parasites are found in lakes, ponds, rivers and streams worldwide, as well as in public water supplies, wells, cisterns, swimming pools, water parks and spas. Ground and surface water can become infected with giardia from agricultural runoff, wastewater discharge or animal feces.
What disease is caused by Giardia lamblia?
Giardiasis is a diarrheal illness caused by Giardia intestinalis (also known as Giardia lamblia or Giardia duodenalis), a one-celled, microscopic protozoan parasite. The parasite is passed in the stool of an infected person or animal.
What animals can transmit Giardia?
Giardia infects many types of animals such as cats, dogs, cows, goats, and wildlife. People are the primary source of Giardia infection in other people, but some human infections may be acquired from animals (zoonotic transmission).
What animals can carry Giardia?
What animals get giardiasis? Giardiasis infection occurs in a wide variety of domestic and wild mammal species including dogs, cats, cattle, sheep, goats, horses, pigs, beavers, coyotes, non-human primates, rodents, and raccoons.
What are the differential diagnosis for giardiasis?
Giardiasis must be differentiated from other causes of abdominal pain, bloating, acute or chronic diarrhea, and weight loss, such as other infectious causes of gastroenteritis, including bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic pathogens, in addition to non-infectious causes, including acute pancreatitis, appendicitis.
Is giardia a zoonotic disease?
Molecular diagnostic tools have been used recently in assessing the taxonomy, zoonotic potential, and transmission of Giardia species and giardiasis in humans and animals. The results of these studies have firmly established giardiasis as a zoonotic disease, although host adaptation at the genotype …
How does Giardia affect the production of livestock?
Although it is commonly believed that infection with Giardiais associated with economic losses through the occurrence of diarrhea, poor growth, and even death in farm animals (48, 89), only a few studies have been conducted to assess the effect of giardiasis on the production or growth rates in livestock.
How common is giardiasis in animals?
Veterinary health importance of giardiasis. Giardiainfections are common in pigs (20, 108), cattle (296), sheep (298), goats (34, 50), elks and deer (201), and other ruminants (191).
Can MLG tools be used to assess the zoonotic transmission of giardiasis?
MLG tools have recently been used in assessments of the zoonotic transmission of giardiasis because of their highly discriminatory power.