Giardia Lamblia

Giardia Lamblia is a small single-celled protozoan found in the gastrointestinal tract of most domestic and wild mammals, including humans.

The term parasite identifies an organism that survives by feeding at the expense of another, without giving anything in return.

Giardia is present all over the world and is characterized by a direct life cycle, that is, it does not need intermediate hosts to reproduce. Dogs contract the infection when they ingest the cystic form of this parasite by drinking contaminated water, eating contaminated food, or licking contaminated fur or coming into contact with contaminated feces present in the environment in which they live.

These cysts that are ingested colonize the first part of the dog’s intestine, the duodenum. Each cyst produces multiple mobile larvae that reproduce asexually giving rise to numerous mature giardias.
The cysts are also eliminated with the dog’s feces and disseminated in the environment. And an important thing is that having a specific gravity of 1.05 they float on the water.

The cysts are very resistant in the environment, but they are killed by heat (50 ° C), they are killed by a very dry climate, they are killed by bleach (sodium hypochlorite), by quaternary ammonium salts, by formaldehyde. They resist for example for 10 hours at –20 ° C, for more than 2 months at 4 ° C and 4 days at 37-38 ° C. Depending on the weather and conditions, the cysts can remain active in the environment even up to about 3 months, and, in the case of a humid climate, the cysts survive very long. Kennels,  shelters and public parks  are the places where giardia finds the ideal environment for the development of its life cycle.

The symptoms caused by the presence of giardia can be summarized in the following points:

• a frothy diarrhea
• nausea
• sometimes Fever
• listlessness
• delayed growth of puppies.

The diagnosis is made by laboratory analysis on the stool; it is important to emphasize that the elimination of this parasite is not constant and therefore it may be necessary to send up to three stool samples collected over several days to completely exclude the infection from Giardia.

It is also possible to detect the presence of antigen in the stool by using specific kits, that are very practical.

The therapy can be carried out with the administration of metronidazole or fenbendazole for at least 5 days, or also with the classic multipurpose dewormer for 3 consecutive days.

Often new, recurring reinfections or infestations are found, in this case it must be specified that it is not a matter of resistance to drugs, but of a continuous reinfection from the environment. In fact, Giardia does not induce immunity in the dog and therefore Giardia does not induce immunity in dogs and therefore can be continuously resumed and manifest symptoms.

To avoid these reinfestations here are some tips:

1. always associate a dog/cat chlorhexidine bath at the beginning and end of the treatment (
2. remove the animal from the environment in which it usually lives, for example if it lives in the garden, keep it especially at home or change the park where it usually spends its time
3. collect the feces and eliminate them as soon as possible since the cysts of Giardia are already infectious in the newly emitted feces;
4. rebalances the intestinal flora with pre + probiotics (probiotics alone have a lower degree of effectiveness)-we recommend the use of LactoAdapt.
5. in kennels and farms proceed with a disinfection of the environment with bleach-based disinfectants.

High temperatures are always effective, but if you use steam or hot water remember that the residual humid environment is ideal for Giardia.

To avoid these re-infestations, Diagiar is a valuable aid because thanks to its formula, rich in essential oils and natural extracts, it contributes to the maintenance of physiological intestinal health thanks to their antiseptic, antidispeptic and antioxidant functions.

Natural products are very effective in terms of preventing intestinal parasites.

DiaGiar® is indicated in association with the drug (administered upon indication by the Veterinarian) until the positivity to girdiasis disappears. In case of use without drug, the therapy will be longer, but always until the positivity disappears.

As prevention, it is advisable to administer it cyclically, especially in areas with a high presence of giardia and in the spring-summer periods.