Giardiasis Research Paper

Giardiasis is a parasite that affects the digestive system. As a parasite, it feeds off another organism in order to survive. While it is uncommon in the developed world, it can be found in every region of the United States and around the world. It is frequently seen in developing and poor countries where it can affect a number of people due to poor hygiene and unsanitary conditions. As a parasite that can so lethally attack people, it displays a plethora amount of signs and symptoms in a patient that can be easily mistaken for another disease making it difficult to identify which makes it pertinent to fight this relatively harmless parasite that can result in death without treatment.

Pathophysiology Giardiasis is an infection that affects the gastrointestinal tract caused by the parasite, Giardia lamblia, which is also known as Giardia intestinalis. Giardiasis is most commonly spread by contaminated water or food or by direct contact from person to person. In the world, there is an estimated 200 million people are affected by giardiasis. In the United States, there have been over a 120
lamblia, is a single celled organism that was formerly classified as an animal in the animal kingdom. As a parasite, it is pear shaped with four flagella extending from its body for easy movement. G. lamblia has a two stage life cycle that can be directly spread to humans without a transitional host. The cycle of the infection is initiated when a human swallows the parasite either through contaminated water of food in the oral cavity. The parasite is covered in a cyst, which is protective shell that surrounds the organism offering protection and allows it to survive when it is outside an animal or human host. It takes approximately 10 to 15 cysts of G. lamblia for a person to swallow in order to be infected. The cyst is oval shaped and consists of a smooth wall. When the cyst reaches inside the body, it passes through the digestive