Happy Canada Day! I thought it would be fun to do a Canada-themed disease. Todayโs path rounds are on ๐๐๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ ๐๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ!
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ?
๐๐๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ ๐๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ is a disease of humans caused by ๐๐ข๐๐ซ๐๐ข๐, a single-celled parasite. However, this parasite can affect many mammalian species!
๐๐ก๐จ ๐ ๐๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ?
In veterinary contexts, we most commonly see this infection in young dogs and cats.
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ?
Giardia is shed in the feces of infected animals, allowing it to contaminate the environment. In particular, water sources are commonly contaminated, allowing the parasite to spread when animals drink from that water source. This is usually how humans become infected! Some of the most notable โoutbreaksโ of Giardia infection were in hikers drinking from streams or lakes, or even getting splashed in the face while out kayaking or boating. Wild!
๐๐ก๐ฒ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฆ?
Giardia have 4 ๐๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ (long strands used for movement) which allows them to come into contact with the intestinal tract after the animal ingests the parasite. Once attached in the intestine, they disrupt the normal ๐๐ข๐ ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐๐ง๐ณ๐ฒ๐ฆ๐๐ฌ, which break down food into nutrients that can be absorbed. With these enzymes not functioning properly, a large amount of food remains in the intestinal tract, causing ๐๐ข๐๐ซ๐ซ๐ก๐๐. These animals often suffer from weight loss and reduced growth as well, because they arenโt receiving enough nutrients from the food they eat.
๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ ๐๐ข๐๐ ๐ง๐จ๐ฌ๐๐?
Diagnosis is relatively simple, as the parasite can be identified by looking at fecal samples under the microscope!
๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐๐?
Thankfully, beaver fever is relatively easy to treat! Our common anti-parasitic mediations are effective against Giardia, so the disease has a relatively good prognosis.
๐๐จโฆ ๐ฐ๐ก๐ฒ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ ๐๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ?
As mentioned, usually hikers get this disease! For a long time, it was thought that beavers were the main source of this parasite. However, we now know that any mammal can carry it and contaminate the water source. But the name has stuck, and poor beavers take most of the blame!
๐๐ก๐จ๐ญ๐จ๐ฌ
1-5) Cute little Giardia swimming around!
๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐๐ฌ
Robertson LJ. Giardiasis in animals. Merck Veterinary Manual 2022.
Photo 1 ยฉย Wikimedia Commons contributor Netha Hussain, Mikael Hรคggstrรถm, Ajpolino, Nephron licensed under CC Share Alike 4.0 International.
Photos 2-5 ยฉย Wikimedia Commons contributor JMGardner licensed under CC Share Alike 3.0 Unported.
