What is lamblia?
Giardiasis is an intestinal infection in humans and animals, caused by the simplest parasites lamblia.
Giardia is the simplest unicellular parasite, it is not helminth, not a bacterium or a virus. The parasite is found all over the world. and is a common cause of travelers’ diarrhea. Some enthusiasts who accidentally drink contaminated water can earn “beaver fever” which is another name giardiasis in humans. Other protozoan parasites that can cause intestinal disorders, are coccidia, toxoplasma and cryptosporidia.
Giardiasis can be a major cause of diarrhea. But, most dogs infected with giardia do not have diarrhea, vomiting and any other symptoms
Giardia has two forms. Fragile movable form that exists in the intestines, and a fixed form (cyst form), which exists in feces and can survive in the environment, including water, up to several months.
What are the clinical symptoms of giardiasis?
These microscopic parasites stick to the intestinal wall and cause acute fetid diarrhea. Stool may vary from soft to watery, often has a greenish tint, and sometimes contains blood. Infected dogs typically have feces excess mucus. In some cases, vomiting may occur. These symptoms may persist for several weeks and gradual weight loss may become apparent.
Diarrhea with giardiasis can be intermittent. Most dogs do not have a fever, but may be less active. Illness usually not life threatening if the dog’s immune system is not weakened.
How do dogs get giardiasis?
Dogs become infected with giardia when they swallow a parasite in the form of cysts. In susceptible dogs, as soon as the cyst enters the intestines, it goes into the form of a trophozoite (mobile form), attaches to the intestinal wall and begins to feed. If Giardia is sufficient quantity, then the dog will have clinical symptoms and will damage to the walls of the intestines develop. Trophozoites multiply division, and some turn into the form of cysts. Thus the dog leaves lamblia cysts in its stool.
These cysts can immediately infect other animals. Giardiasis may transmitted through food, smelling contaminated soil, as well as the use of contaminated water.
If cysts occur in the stool of a healthy adult dog without diarrhea, then this is usually considered temporary, minor phenomenon. However, in puppies and weakened dogs, giardiasis can cause severe watery diarrhea, which without treatment can become deadly.
The likelihood of infection increases if the surrounding dog the environment contains a lot of fecal contamination. Giardiasis often found in densely populated areas and environments such as shelters, nurseries and pet stores.
How is giardiasis diagnosed?
Tiny cysts are detected during regular stool tests. dogs. If your vet suspects a dog has giardiasis, he may analyze feces for specific antigens Giardia. A preliminary diagnosis is often made on the basis of medical history and clinical symptoms indicating giardiasis.
How to treat giardiasis?
The most common drug used to treat Giardia, this is an antibiotic metronidazole. It is commonly used in within 5-7 days. Another antiparasitic drug, fenbendazole, often used as an adjunct, especially with use with metronidazole. Combination of these drugs also often used in cats suffering from stubborn and unresponsive diarrhea. In case of dehydration or in case of severe diarrhea is supported therapy with other drugs means. Some dogs require follow-up examination and therapy based on their condition.
What is the prognosis for the treatment of giardiasis?
In most cases, the prognosis is positive. Increased risk Complications are only depleted or old animals, with highly weakened immune system.
Can a dog infect a person?
Giardia can cause diarrhea in humans and can potentially transmitted from dogs to humans. It is also believed that wild cats and dogs are the main sources of giardia infection people.
However, transmission from person to person also very common, and polluted water supply is responsible for many outbreaks of the disease.
If your dog is diagnosed with giardiasis, then you should thoroughly disinfect its environment and observe strict personal hygiene. In particular, people with immunodeficiency, cancer, or those undergoing chemotherapy should handle feces extremely Caution.
For disinfection, you can use chlorine bleach, diluted 1 to 32 or 1 to 16. However, make sure that surfaces can be safely sanitized with bleach. Giardia can also be excreted by quaternary ammonium compounds (parvosol and other). Giardia cysts are afraid of a dry environment, so try to keep the environment is as dry as possible. To achieve the best results, you must clear all areas available to the pet, then dry them for several days, and only after that allow the pet to be in the familiar environment.
