Giardia

Question 1

What are the species of Giardia: (3)

Answer 1

• Giardia duodenalis (syn. intestinalis, lamblia) = H: Human, dog, cattle, cat and rat
• Giardia agilis = H: Amphibia, birds, reptiles
• Giardia muris = H: Rodents, birds, reptiles

Question 2

What does Giardia cause?

Answer 2

Gastroenteritis
-diarrhea with mucus, fatty poop, stercorarea

Question 3

What are the two forms of Giardia: (2)

Answer 3

• Trophozoites = vegetative stage
• Cyst =infective stage

Question 4

What is the shape, size and location of Trophozoite stage:

Answer 4

Shape: pear
Size: 12-17x6-12 μm
Location: duodenum, jejunum

Question 5

What is the shape, size and location of the Cyst:

Answer 5

Shape: Ovoid
Size: 8-14x6-10 μm
Location: feces - can survive in the environment for months

Question 6

Describe the Life cycle of Giardia:

Answer 6

External environment
1. Host ingests a Giardia Cyst by contaminated food or water
Host
1. Excystatin occurs in duodenum becoming a Trophozoite
2. Trophozoit adhere to the mucous of small intestine
3. They multiply by Binary fisson
4. Lastly they shed with faeces, both in Trophozoite form and Cyst form

Question 7

What are the diagnostic methods for Giardia:

Answer 7

1. Coprological examination by flotation technique (have to collect poop samples 3 days in a row, shedding only happens every 3 days, will only see the Cyst form)
2. Detection of Coproantigen (rapid test)
3. PCR