Giardia intestinalis inhabiting in the lumen of intestine is a cosmopolitan parasite causing chronic diarrhoea of acute type and leads to malabsorption in the intestine. This Giardia infection retards growth and development of children. The disease has been referred as a Giardiasis and it also has been indicated as a Zoonosis.
Treatment of Giardiasis:
i. Atebrin and acranil have been found to be used for Giardiasis.
ii. Chloroquine (300 mg per day) for five days is also reported to be effective.
iii. Metronidazole, a derivative of imidazole is also reported to be useful.
The Species of Giardia along with their Hosts other than Giardia Intestinalis:
i. Giardia agillis—Tadpole
ii. Giardia duodenalis—Rabbit
iii. Giardia caviae—Guinea-pig
iv. Giardia muris—Rat
The Salient Features of Cystic Stage of Giardia Intestinalis:
The fully formed Giardia intestinalis is oval in shape and it is 8-14 μm long and 7-10 μm broad and surrounded by a hyaline cyst wall. It contains four nuclei which may remain clustered at one end. The axostyles lie diagonally, forming a dividing line within the cyst wall.
Route of infection:
By ingestion of cysts (infective form)—with food and drink man is infected and this infection causes watery diarrhoea and malabsorption.