Giardiasis
aka
Beaver Fever
By: Andrew Marmo
Sources
► The
MERK Manual
► Google Images
► http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth
/PMH0001333
Cause
►Giardiasis
is an infection of the
small intestine caused by Giardia
lamblia, a single-celled parasite.
Giardia lamblia
Transmission
► Giardiasis
is caused by ingestion of infective
cysts. Usually contracted by drinking water
containing cysts.
► 3 modes
 host-to-host
 water-borne
 and venereal
Vector/Reservoirs
► Giardia
has no vector. It can survive in
cold water without a host for several
months.
► It is found in humans, and a wide variety
of other aquatic and semi-aquatic
mammals such as beavers, muskrats, and
other small rodents.
► It is also found in some varieties of birds.
Cyst and Trophozoite
Symptoms
► Gastrointestinal
symptoms such as
abdominal cramps, watery diarrhea,
vomiting, and fever which may last for 3–4
days.
► Other symptoms include loss of appetite,
malaise, and fatigue.
Severity
► Giardiasis
is usually self-limiting, although
the infection can be prolonged in hosts who
have a weak immune system, or who have
decreased gastric acid secretion.
► It can also be deadly to hosts with
compromised immune systems like the
elderly or AIDS patients.
Prevention
► Boil
stream or lake
water if your in the
woods. You never
know what’s up
stream.
► ALWAYS WASH YOUR
HANDS!