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Giardia
Giardia lamblia Giardia lamblia (intestinalis) is a single celled animal, i.e., a protozoa, that moves with the aid of five flagella and is spread via contaminated food and water and by direct person-to-person contact.
In Europe, it is sometimes referred to as Lamblia intestinalis. Giardiasis is the most frequent cause of non-bacterial diarrhea in North America. Giardiasis is most frequently associated with the consumption of contaminated water. Cool moist conditions favor the survival of the organism.
One person can pass millions of G. lamblia cysts each day, and most infections probably result from ingestion of water or food contaminated with human sewage. Open sewers in city streets and contamination of drinking water with this sewage undoubtedly results in many infections. However, in some countries the use of human fecal material ("night soil") as a fertilizer is also an important source of infection. Many cases of "traveler's diarrhea" are caused by Giardia. Even in developed countries potable water can be contaminated with small amounts of sewage, especially when septic systems are built too close to wells. Thus, it is not surprising that G. lamblia is found throughout the world.
Giardiasis is more prevalent in children than in adults, possibly because many individuals seem to have a lasting immunity after infection. This organism is implicated in 25% of the cases of gastrointestinal disease and may be present asymptomatically. The overall incidence of infection in the United States is estimated at 2% of the population. This disease afflicts many homosexual men, both HIV-positive and HIV-negative individuals. This is presumed to be due to sexual transmission. The disease is also common in child day care centers, especially those in which diapering is done.
to learn more about treating drinking water against giardia using UV Oxidation and Disinfection technology.
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