Giardiasis is an intestinal infection of humans and animals caused by protozoan parasites lamblia. Giardia are simple unicellular parasites, these are not bacteria, nor viruses, nor worms. This parasite is found worldwide and is a common cause. “diarrhea of travelers” who accidentally use polluted water.
Giardia has two forms. The first is the form of feeding, which exists in the intestines of infected animals. The second is cystic a form that exists in feces that can survive in the environment up to several months.
Giardiasis is a common cause of diarrhea in animals and humans. By however, many infected cats do not show clinical symptoms.
How do cats become infected with giardiasis?
The cat becomes infected with giardia, swallowing a parasite in the form of a cyst. After the cyst enters the cat’s intestines, she transforms into trophozoite form and sticks to the walls intestines. If enough lamblia has been ingested, then clinical symptoms of bowel damage will appear. Trophozoites multiply by division, and some are converted back to cysts and fall into feces. These cysts can immediately infect another animal. Giardiasis infection can occur through food, through cysts in contaminated land, and through contaminated water.
The disease is relatively rare in healthy and adult cats. The likelihood of infection increases when the environment the environment contains a large number of parasite cysts. Most often the disease occurs in kittens and cats with weakened immunity.
What are the symptoms of giardiasis?
Giardia stick to the walls of the intestine and cause a sudden fetid diarrhea. The stool may be soft or watery, sometimes has a greenish color and blood. In some cases in cats vomiting appears. Symptoms may persist for several weeks, so gradual weight loss may become apparent. At most cats do not have fever (fever), but they can be less active. The disease is usually not life threatening. pet, but can be dangerous for kittens, old cats and cats with weakened immune system.
How is giardiasis diagnosed?
Tiny cysts can be detected using the usual feces test. If your veterinarian suspects a pet of giardiasis, then a sample of it feces can be analyzed for specific antigens Giardia. In many cases, the diagnosis is based on history. diseases and clinical symptoms characteristic of giardiasis.
Giardiasis treatment
The most common drug for the treatment of giardiasis is metronidazole. This antibiotic is very bitter, therefore available in form of coated tablets. In order to use the drug was easier, it is often released with a certain amount of flavorings. Metronidazole is used within 5-7 days.
Another antiparasitic drug is fenbendazole, which may be especially effective in combination with metronidazole. The combination of these drugs is used, as a rule, in cats with severe diarrhea, difficult to treat. As additional treatment may be necessary for the cat therapy using other drugs.
What are the forecasts?
The prognosis is usually favorable. Increased risk of various only exhausted and old are subject to complications and even death animals with greatly weakened immunity.
Can a cat infect a person with giardiasis?
Giardia is a common intestinal parasite in humans and can potentially be transmitted from cats to humans. If your the cat was diagnosed with giardiasis, then you must disinfect its environment and observe the rules of personal hygiene. IN in particular, people with cancer, immunodeficiency or undergoing a course chemotherapy should handle the cat and its feces extremely Caution.
You can use chlorine bleach to disinfect your home, diluted in water in a ratio of 1:32 or 1:16. However you should make sure that surfaces do not deteriorate due to bleach. Disinfection can also be carried out using compounds Quaternary ammonium (parvosol et al.). Giardia cysts are bad survive in a dry environment, so keep the atmosphere in the house as dry as possible.
