Giardiasisis one of the most significant gastrointestinal diseases caused by a cosmopolitan protozoa Giardia duodenalis. The infection occurs in many animals, including wild raccoons (Procyonlotor), that may play role disseminating cysts into environment and transmitting it to humans domestic animals. Giardiasis has various clinical manifestations, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, upset stomach or n...

Malabsorption was present in 29 of 40 symptomatic patients with giardiasis. Twenty-three had impaired D-xylose absorption; in 20 vitamin B12 absorption was low, and 15 patients had steatorrhoea. More severe malabsorption was associated with more marked histological abnormalities. Metronidazole, 2-0 g as a single daily dose on three successive days, produced a parasitological cure rate of 91%. I...