What Is Microbiology - Giardia Lamblia Infection

Giardia lamblia infection 

Giardia lamblia infection may present with watery diarrhea to malabsorption syndrome. Patient with malabsorption syndrome may complain of abdominal cramps and other signs and symptoms such as steatorrhea / fat in the stool, flatulence and foul smelling stools. 

Patient may be symptomatic and asymptomatic. Patient will shed the cysts in the stools.The cysts will lead to trophozoites which appear in the stools as pear shaped with ventral sucking disk and four flagella.

The common mode of transmission may include fecal oral route, oral - anal route and ingestion of cyst from the contaminated water with feces. 

The common source of infection may include fecal contamination of the mountain stream by muskrats or beavers. 

Giardia lamblia is an intestinal flagellate which via ventral sucking disk of the trophozites  may attach to the duodenum and jejunum. This will block the absorption of fat. 

The treatment may include proper hygiene and avoiding water from mountain stream. The medication require may include quinacrine hydrochloride and metronidazole.