by Denice Moffat | Parasitology Section
Giardia cysts on the other hand are very resistant to harsh environmental factors and can survive outside the host for prolonged periods. Giardiasis is most often linked to consumption of contaminated water, but raw produce and other foods have also been considered as possible vectors. Giardia lamblia causes the disease Giardiasis with symptoms of diarrhea, abdominal bloating, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, malabsorption syndrome causing steatorrhea (fat in the stool) fatigue and severe weight loss in chronic infections.
by Denice Moffat | Parasitology Section
Symptoms of Amoebiasis: Mucoid or bloody diarrhea, colitis, severe diarrhea with fever, enlarged liver and abdominal pain. The liver can become abscessed if the disease is not treated and can cause death. The incubation period is 2-4 weeks which means you have to be exposed and the parasite needs time to grow before symptoms occur.
by Denice Moffat | Parasitology Section
In 1996, a large outbreak of Cyclospora infection in the United States and Canada was caused by Guatemala-imported raspberries. It is not clear how the fruit became contaminated, but it might have happened when fruit touched the ground or when contaminated water was sprayed over fruit fields by sprinkling systems. People infected with C. cayetanensis excrete oocysts that are not infectious. This is an important clue in diagnosis because other parasitic diseases can be very infectious so more than one person (or pet) in the family will have symptoms at the same time. Cyclospora needs days or weeks after being passed in a bowel movement to become infectious. People most likely get Cyclospora infection by ingesting food or water that was contaminated with stool from an infected person. It is unknown if animals can be infected and pass infection to people.
by Denice Moffat | Parasitology Section
Cryptosporidium is a five micrometer microscopic intracellular protozoal parasite that was first associated with human gastro-intestinal disease in 1976. With the advent of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) epidemic, Cryptosporidium infections became increasingly recognized as a cause of diarrheal illness.
by Denice Moffat | Parasitology Section
Coccidia are microscopic, spore-forming, single-celled protozoal parasites living in the small intestine of the genus Isospora , detectable only under a microscope. Coccidia are obligate, intracellular parasites, which means that they must live and reproduce within an animal or bird’s cell. Coccidia is one of the most prevalent protozoal infections in North American animals, second only to Giardia.
by Denice Moffat | Parasitology Section
Symptoms of Balantidium: Colic, straining to defecate, nausea, vomiting diarrhea, loss of appetite, bloody diarrhea, weakness. Infection can also be without symptoms. The incubation period is usually 3-4 days which means you need to be exposed 3-4 days previous before symptoms appear. This picture was taken from either a fecal sample (which was dyed) or from a colon biopsy.
