Enteric protozoan parasites, which are spread by the fecal-oral route, are important causes of diarrhea (Giardia duodenalis) and amebic dysentery (Entamoeba histolytica). Cyst walls of Giardia and Entamoeba have a single layer composed of fibrils of β-1,3-linked GalNAc and β-1,4-linked GlcNAc (chitin), respectively. The goal here was to determine whether hand sanitizers that contain ethanol or ...

Fecal samples were collected from hunter-killed white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) during a managed hunt in a central Maryland county. Fecal samples were cleaned of debris and concentrated by CsCl density gradient centrifugation and stained with MerIFluor reagents. Stained samples were examined by fluorescent microscopy for the presence of Giardia sp. cysts. One of 26 samples was found ...

Giardia lamblia and Cryptosporidium parvum can cause severe symptoms in humans, particularly in the immunologically compromised. Monoclonal antibody reagents offer increased sensitivity and an excellent alternative to conventional staining methods. These reagents are helpful when screening large numbers of patients or those with minimal symptoms. Problems of false-positive and false-negative re...

A total of 60 samples were collected from 35 swimming pools in Beijing, China, and the presence of Cryptosporidium and Giardia were investigated. The results showed that 16.7% and 15.0% of samples were positive for Cryptosporidium oocyst and Giardia cysts, respectively, with a mean concentration of 0.30 oocysts/10 L and 0.27 cysts/10 L. The oocysts and cysts were found to have higher rates of o...

A system of tangential-flow filtration was evaluated for use in the detection of Giardia cysts in drinking water. This method was more sensitive in recovering cysts than a frequently used wound-orlon system of through-filtration.

Sequence analysis of the small subunit ribosomal DNA (SSU-rDNA) and elongation factor 1 alpha (ef1α) was performed on Giardia cysts isolated from faeces collected from a quenda (Isoodon obesulus) in the southwest of Western Australia. The SSU-rDNA and ef1α were sequenced in their entirety and correspondingly aligned with the published sequence information of other known species and genotypes of...

Infections with the intestinal protozoan parasite Giardia in dogs and cats are common. Clinical signs vary from asymptomatic to small bowel diarrhea and associated discomfort. The control of infections in dogs is frequently a frustrating issue for animal owners and veterinarians. Drugs with antiprotozoal activity such as fenbendazole and metronidazole are recommended, however, they do not show ...

Nested PCR was performed on individually isolated Giardia lamblia cysts in replicates of 50 for sets of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, and 10 cysts. Amplification ranged from 80% for 1 cyst to 100% for 10 cysts. The results suggest that nested PCR is well adapted for G. lamblia single-cyst detection.

Numerous waterborne outbreaks of giardiasis have occurred since 1965, yet little or no information has been reported on the viability of Giardia cysts in different aquatic environments. We have studied the viability of Giardia muris cysts suspended in lake, river, and tap water, while also monitoring water temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, and other water quality parameters. Fecal pellets cont...

The object of this study was to determine the importance of domestic cats in the epidemiology of human giardiasis. Of six laboratory-reared cats inoculated with cultured Giardia lamblia trophozoites from humans, only one showed the presence of cysts in the feces, and cysts were found on only 1 of the 80 days of observation. In a second experiment, eight cats were inoculated with G. lamblia cyst...