Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Encyclopedia of Parasitology pp 1115–1120Cite as

Giardia duodenalis

  • Reference work entry
  • First Online:

  • 135 Accesses

Name

The genus and species name honors famous scientists (Alfredo Giardi: 1846–1908 and W. D. Lambl: 1841–1895). Latin: duodenalis = duodenum = anterior portion of the small intestine.

Geographic Distribution/Epidemiology

Worldwide; in tropical regions especially increased numbers occur; it is estimated that worldwide several hundred thousands of humans are constantly infected. These numbers will increase, since cross-infection with species/subspecies respectively strains (which occur in animals) are now proven.

Morphology/Life Cycle

G. lamblia occurs in two stages: trophozoites and cysts (Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4). The trophozoites appear pear shaped or drop like; their flattened ventral side contains a large adhesion system (called discus) and the typical eight flagella, which are symmetrically arranged (Fig. 5). The trophozoites reach a length of about 20 μm and a width of 7–10 μm. In contrast to their flattened ventral side (whereby they attach at the microvilli of the host’s...

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   1,399.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD   1,799.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Further Readings

  • Baldurson WS, Karanis P (2011) Waterborne transmission of protozoan parasites: review of worldwide outbreaks: an update 2004–2010. Water Res 45:6603–6614

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cheun HI et al (2013) Development of a diagnostic kit to detect Cryptosporidium parvum and Giardia lamblia. Osong Public Health Res Perspect 4:146–151

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Daly ER et al (2009) Outbreak of giardiasis associated with a community drinking water source. Epidemiol Infect 138:491–500

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Weitzel TD et al (2006) Evaluation of commercial antigen detection tests for Giardia and Cryptosporidium in stool samples. Clin Microbiol Infect 12:656–659

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zaglool DAM et al (2013) Crypto-Giardia antigen rapid test versus conventional modified Ziehl-Neelsen acid fast staining method for diagnosis of cryptosporidiosis. Asian Pac J Trop Med 6:212–215

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Zoomorphologie, Zellbiologie und Parasitologie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany

    Heinz Mehlhorn

Authors
  1. Heinz Mehlhorn
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Heinz Mehlhorn .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Zoomorphologie, Zellbiologie und Parasitologie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität, Düsseldorf, Germany

    Heinz Mehlhorn

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2016 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this entry

Cite this entry

Mehlhorn, H. (2016). Giardia duodenalis . In: Mehlhorn, H. (eds) Encyclopedia of Parasitology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-43978-4_3909

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation