Giardiasis: Background, Pathophysiology, Etiology (2024)

FAQs

What is the pathophysiology of giardiasis? ›

Pathophysiological activation of lymphocytes is secondary to Giardia-induced disruption of epithelial tight junctions, which, in turn, increases intestinal permeability. Loss of epithelial barrier function is a result of Giardia-induced enterocyte apoptosis.

Giardia infection is an intestinal infection marked by stomach cramps, bloating, nausea and bouts of watery diarrhea. Giardia infection is caused by a microscopic parasite that is found worldwide, especially in areas with poor sanitation and unsafe water.

Giardia was initially described by van Leeuwenhoek in 1681 as he was examining his own diarrheal stools under the microscope (66). The organism was described in greater detail by Lambl in 1859, who thought the organism belonged to the genus Cercomonas and named it Cercomonas intestinalis (172).

Giardiasis is the most prevalent enteric protozoal infection globally, affecting nearly 2% of adults and 8% of children in developed countries. About 33% of individuals in developing countries have been infected with giardiasis. Giardiasis spans temperate and tropical regions, with prevalence rates between 4% and 42%.

Mode of transmission of Giardia

Transmission occurs from person to person and animal to person via hand-to-mouth transfer of cysts from infected faeces or faecally contaminated surfaces. Waterborne outbreaks may occur as a result of faecal contamination of public water supplies or recreational swimming areas.

To help diagnose giardia infection (giardiasis), your doctor is likely to test a sample of your stool. For accuracy, you may be asked to submit several stool samples collected over a period of days. The samples are then examined in a lab for the presence of parasites.

Giardia infection (giardiasis) is a bowel (gut) infection caused by a tiny parasite called Giardia lamblia, also known as Giardia intestinalis. The parasite is a single-celled organism that can attach itself in large numbers to the wall of your bowel and interferes with your body's natural absorption of nutrients.

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.

Giardia duodenalis (Giardia for short) is a parasite. Illness caused by Giardia is called giardiasis. Giardia lives in the gut of infected people and animals and comes out of the body in poop.

What is a fact about giardiasis? ›

Giardiasis is a diarrheal disease caused by the microscopic parasite Giardia duodenalis (or “Giardia” for short). Once a person or animal has been infected with Giardia, the parasite lives in the intestines and is passed in stool (poop). Once outside the body, Giardia can sometimes survive for weeks or even months.

Giardia species are flagellated anaerobic protozoan (or protist) organisms characterized by their dyadic symmetry and presence of two symmetrical nuclei in the trophozoites. They are intestinal parasites of animals that range phylogenetically from amphibians to mammals, depending on the Giardia species.

Giardia intestinalis infection causes enterocytes damage and loss of brush border of the epithelial cells of the intestine that leads to shortening of microvilli and altered epithelial barrier function. This pathology results in aqueous diarrhoea, steatorrhea, nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting and weight loss.

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.

Giardiasis is a common illness caused by a parasite that may result in diarrhea and stomach cramps. The Giardia parasite can spread through contaminated water, food and surfaces, and from contact with someone who has it.

It is concluded that Giardia trophozoites interfere with the active transport mechanisms of the small intestinal mucosa. This defect could result either from structural damage to the substrate carriers or from an alteration in cell maturation.

Giardia induces a robust adaptive immune response in both humans and animals. It has been known for many years that there is production of large amounts of parasite-specific IgA following infection and that CD4⁺ T cell responses contribute to this IgA production and control of the infection.

G. duodenalis is the most prevalent protozoan human intestinal pathogen and is found worldwide, causing infections that ranges from asymptomatic to chronic diarrhea and malabsorption. The life cycle of G. duodenalis consists of two stages, the trophozoite and cyst.

Our findings indicate that Giardia chromosomes are replicated from only a few active origins, which are widely spaced and exhibit faster replication rates compared to those in other protozoan parasites.