Giardia
CZ: giardie, lamblie
EN: giardia
Occurrence:
Meat and Meat Products
Fish and Fish Products
Fruits and Vegetables
Water and Beverages
Category:
Parasites
Foodborne Disease:
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Description:
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Giardia intestinalis is a protozoan flagellate (Diplomonadida) that can live in the intestines of animals and people, it causes giardiasis. It is found in every region throughout the world and has become recognized as one of the most common causes of waterborne (and occasionally food-borne) illness. People get giardiasis by consuming food or water contaminated with G. duodenalis cysts (the infective stage of the organism); by putting anything into your mouth that has touched the stool of a person or animal with giardiasis.
Diarrhoea, abdominal cramps, and nausea are the most common symptoms. Some cases may be without symptoms. Symptoms will usually appear 1 to 2 weeks after ingestion of a G.duodenalis cyst. They may last 4 to 6 weeks in otherwise healthy persons, but there are cases of chronic illnesses lasting months or even years.
Giardiasis occurs throughout the population, although the prevalence is higher in children than adults. Chronic symptomatic giardiasis is more common in adults than children. Those at risk include persons working in child day-care, international travellers (traveller?s diarrhoea), people who drink from untreated water supplies, persons with weakened immune systems.
Pictures:
Source: Life cycle of genus Giardia
Source: trofozoits and SEM microscopy
Source: trophozoit in fecal smear
Source: trophozoits in feces