Greg Eusanio
BIO212A
Takehome 1.
Giardia is an oval shaped cyst commonly found anywhere
from the feces of undomesticated animals, contaminated or
untreated sewage, to our tap water. (EPA) With water being a
necessary part of any organisms’ everyday lives, makes it a
plausible reason Giardia is so contagious.
Testing was done on samples of tap water and
contaminated sewage. By whom? When?The results show that tap
water still had 10-100cysts/L and the sewage showed anywhere
from 10,000-100,000cysts/L. (EPA) Is this always or just during an
outbreak?
The test concluded sewage shows a notable number of Giardia
microbes per unit making it well noted in the microbiological
sense, Giardia can be found in great amounts in contaminated
media.
Exposure in more industrialized countries such as the
United States is significantly less than countries such as parts of
Africa due to the lack of water treatments. This doesn’t mean
we’re in the clear because it was reported in 2000 that 4,600
people were hospitalized in the United States with most being
children under 5 years of age. (EPA) Toddlers are affected more
because they are well known to touch everything around and with
Giardia being contagious and tough, making it a recipe for disaster.
The cysts are most often transferred through touch and that is more
than enough for the microbe to reek havoc.
Since 1971, Giardia has been the most commonly
identified pathogen in waterborne outbreaks reported in the United
States. (EPA) We must gain awareness of the power this microbe
can unveil if we happen to do gain exposure from containments or
another living organism. Some symptoms of exposure include
significant weight loss, abdominal pain, vomiting, and or pale or
greasy appearing stool. (EPA) Symptoms can gain anywhere from
a few days to months or years. Luckily there’re prescription
treatments to cure symptoms but normal side effects should be
considered.
The best piece of advice to avoid exposure to Giardia alone
is ensuring your water system at home is safe to drink. (EPA) If
wells are the source of your water, make sure the water is boiled
prior to consuming because unlike endospores, Giardia cannot
survive at extreme temperatures.
Giardia is quite contagious, therefore making it a
successful microbe. Like other pathogens, exposure can be
impeded and controlled by knowing what is in your environment
and being able to react properly if the time of contamination does
come.
EPA. Giardia: Drinking Water Fact Sheet. September 2000. 11 September
2013.
http://water.epa.gov/action/advisories/drinking/upload/2009_02_03
_criteria_humanhealth_microbial_giardiafs.pdf