protozoa giardia lamblia

• Giardia lamblia


  An intestinal protozoan along with Entamoeba histolytica

  
• Giardia


  Named after the French biologist Alfred Mathieu Giard and the Czech physician Vilem Lambl by Stiles in 1915
• Giardia intestinalis


  The most popular name, other name is Giardia duodenalis

  
• Protozoa


  • Single celled eukaryotic organisms that are spherical to oval or elongated shape and classified based on the organ of locomotion utilized (flagellates, ciliates, amoebas)
  • Not all protozoa are parasitic, some are facultative parasites like Acanthamoeba and Naegleria
  • Normally reside in the soil or water, can cause severe illness when entered the CNS or eyes

  
• Reproduction


  Divides by means of binary fission, while sporozoans reproduce through both sexual and asexual means
• Infection and Diagnosis


  Diagnosed through microscopic examination of body fluids, tissue specimens, or feces by demonstrating two forms: 1. trophozoite and 2. cyst

  
• Trophozoite


  • Responsible for causing disease
• Cyst


  • Inactive stage and infective form
• Giardia lamblia


  • Its nuclear genome is compact, consisting of approximately 12 million base pairs organized into five chromosomes
  • It has lots of genetic variety within its populations, with different genotypes of at least eight types, labelled A to H and Genotypes A and B are the most commonly linked to human infections
  • This genetic diversity affects how harmful and resistant to drugs different strains the Giardia lamblia can be

  
• Trophozoite


  • Found in the small intestine, pear-shaped, 4 pairs of flagella, motility like a falling leaf, measuring about 10-20 micrometres in length, equipped with pseudopods or "false feet"
  • Looks like an "old man with whiskers" and has a sucking disc that it uses to attach to the intestinal lining of infected humans

  
• Cyst


  • Usually oval or round, resistant to environmental factors and can survive outside the host for weeks to months, measure about 8-12 micrometres in diameter, thick walled with four nuclei
  • Divides through binary fission and each cyst gives rise to two trophozoites during excystation in the intestinal tract
  • Fully mature cyst contains four nuclei with four median bodies

  
• Life Cycle


  1. Cyst stage (infective stage)

  2. Ingested

  3. Enters mouth

  4. Esophagus

  5. Stomach

  6. Small intestine (excystation)

  7. Trophozoites absorb nutrients

  8. Longitudinal binary fission

  9. Ileum (encystation or cyst stage)

  10. Cyst exits in feces

  
• Giardia lamblia, also known as Giardia, is a microscopic parasite causing Giardiasis also known as Beaver Fever

  
• Giardiasis is caused by the flagellate protozoan Giardia lamblia

  
• Transmission routes


  • Person-to-person
  • Water-borne
  • Food-borne
• Asymptomatic carrier state


  Some people with giardia infection never develop signs or symptoms, but they still carry the parasite and can spread it to others through their stool

  
• Giardiasis (Traveler's disease)


  • Signs: Watery, sometimes foul-smelling diarrhea that may alternate with soft, greasy stools
  • Symptoms: Fatigue, Stomach cramps and bloating, Nausea, Weight loss, Dehydration, Failure to thrive, Lactose intolerance
• but they still carry the parasite and can spread it to others through their stool
• Signs and symptoms of giardia infection may last two to six weeks, but in some people they last longer or recur
• Parasitism


  Occurs once a person accumulates the giardia lamblia

  
• Human/ animal feces


  Solid or semisolid remains of food that could not be digested or absorbed in the small intestine of human
• Cyst


  A closed sac, having a distinct envelope and division compared with the nearby tissue
• Trophozoites


  A growing stage in the life cycle of some sporozoan parasites, when they are absorbing nutrients from the host

  
• Transmission


  The passing of pathogen causing communicable from an infective host individual or group to a particular individual or group, regardless of whether the other individual was previously infected
• Transmission routes


  • Person to person (close contact with infected individuals or animals)
  • Ingestion of contaminated water or food

  
• Mucus


  A slippery aqueous secretion produced by, and covering mucous membranes
• Pathogenic bacteria


  Bacteria that cause disease
• Giardiasis


  • Caused by the protozoan Giardia Lamblia
  • Common cause of sporadic, endemic, and epidemic diarrhea
  • Can cause acute diarrhea, malaise, cramping, and bloating
  • Can cause chronic diarrhea, malabsorption or asymptomatic infection

  
• Asymptomatic Infection


  Most common in children, particularly in low-income settings (poor nutrition)
• Metronidazole (Flagyl)


  The most commonly used antibiotic for giardia infection. Side effects may include nausea and a metallic taste in the mouth. Don't drink alcohol while taking this medication.
• Tinidazole (Tindamax)


  Works as well as metronidazole and has many of the same side effects, but it can be given in a single dose. Used to treat certain intestinal and vaginal infections caused by bacteria and parasites. Alcohol must be avoided while taking tinidazole.
• Nitazoxanide (Alinia)


  May be easier for children to swallow as it comes in a liquid form. Side effects may include nausea, gas, yellow eyes and brightly colored yellow urine. Stops the growth of certain diarrhea-causing parasites, such as Giardia lamblia or Cryptosporidium parvum.
• Always take nitazoxanide with food. Food helps your body absorb more of the medication.
• Take the full course of nitazoxanide, even if your diarrhea gets better. Most people will take 6 doses over a period of 3 days. If you stop the medication too early, the diarrhea might come back and may become resistant to the medication.
• Prevention and Control


  • Observance of good personal hygiene, including proper hand washing, especially for food handlers
  • Proper waste disposal to avoid fecal contamination of water sources
  • Avoid the use of "night soil" (human feces) for fertilization of crops
  • Adequate washing and cooking of vegetables
• No drug or vaccine can prevent giardia infection. But commonsense precautions can go a long way toward reducing the chances that you'll become infected or spread the infection to others.
• Commonsense precautions


  • Purify wilderness water
  • Keep your mouth closed
  • Use bottled water
• real-life giardia lamblia


  • cyst
  • trophozoite