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Giardiasis

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Laboratory Diagnosis of Infectious Diseases

Abstract

Giardiasis is the human infection caused by the flagellated protozoan Giardia lamblia. This organism is distributed worldwide among most cultural groups. Once colonized in humans, its clinical expression may vary from no symptoms to those of steatorrhea and malnutrition. Its cosmopolitan distribution adds this parasite to the list of parasitic burdens already existing in many developing countries. In this setting, the protozoan is often present simultaneously with other parasites or infectious agents. In developed nations, giardiasis has become an important problem, particularly among certain subsets of the population or during epidemic outbreaks. The common thread that maintains this parasite as an active pathogen is fecal contamination. Fecal contamination with the cysts of G. lamblia is needed for its transmission to a new host. It is this factor that must be considered in the treatment, prevention, and control of giardiasis.

It is a matter of regret that seemingly so little consideration has been given to the problem of the carriers of lamblia cysts, who may be a source of considerable trouble in the future. Porter (1916)

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  1. Jerry E. Jones
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control, 30333, Atlanta, GA, USA

    A. Balows

  2. Hygienic Laboratory, Oakdale Hall, University of Iowa, 52242, Iowa City, IA, USA

    W. J. Hausler Jr.

  3. Tokyo Metropolitan Research Laboratory of Public Health, Hyakunin-cho, Shinjuku-ku, 160, Tokyo, Japan

    M. Ohashi

  4. Istituto di Microbilogia dell ’Universitá, Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy

    A. Turano

  5. Viral and Rickettsial Disease Laboratory, California Department of Health Services, and California Public Foundation, 94704, Berkeley, CA, USA

    E. H. Lennete (Emeritus Director) (Emeritus Director)

  6. Institut Virion, CH-8803, Ruschlikon/Zurich, Switzerland

    E. H. Lennete (Emeritus Director) (Emeritus Director)

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Jones, J.E. (1988). Giardiasis. In: Balows, A., Hausler, W.J., Ohashi, M., Turano, A., Lennete, E.H. (eds) Laboratory Diagnosis of Infectious Diseases. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-3898-0_92

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-3898-0_92

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