Giardia lamblia or Giardia duodenalis or Giardia intestinalis
It causes disease giardiasis.
These flagellates cause intestinal infection. They are present in duodenum and upper part of jejunum of man.
Morphology
Giardia lamblia exist in two phase;
1. Trophozoites
Size; 14 micrometre long and 7 micrometre broad
Shape; tenis or badminton racket.
2. Cyst
Size; Oval in shape and 12 micrometre long and 7 micrometre broad.
Sources and Modes of Transmission
Infection spreads through contaminated food or water.
It usually infect duodenum with incubation time of about ten days.
It is most common in area with poor sanitation and unsafe water.
Symptoms;
Sudden onset of diarrhoea
Excessive fats present in stool
Stool has foul ordor
Life cycle
Life cycle of giardia lamblia complete only single host i.e human.
It exist in two forms;
1. Trophozoites
2. Cyst
Infective cyst in human, through feco-oral route.
In duodenum, each cyst hatch to produce trophozoites.
Trophozoites multiply by binary fission and produce cyst which comes, but in human stool and enter in same cycle.
1. Trophozoites in intestine of man
2. Trophozoites multiply and colonize in duodenum.
3. In duodenum, each cyst hatches to produce trophozoites.
4. Produce cyst, which comes out un human stool.
5. Trophozoites multiply by binary fission.
Laboratory Diagnosis
Specimen collection
Include stool sample
Stool examination in normal saline
Show giardia cysts, if stool test is -ve.
ELISA test
This test is used to measure giardia antigen in fecal material.
Treatment
Metronidazole is effective treatment.
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