Giardiasis+(Giardia+lamblia)

**__Where it is Found...__** **Giardiasis is in every region of the United States and the rest of the world. Mostly in mountain areas where lakes, ponds, and streams are located.** **__What causes it...__ ** It is caused by a one-celled, micro parasite that lives in the intestines of animals and humans. __**﻿**__ **__ __**

= __**How the life cycle works**__  = =**﻿1.** Infection happens by the ingestion of cysts in contaminated water or food. = =**2.** In the small intestine, excystation releases trophozoites that multiply by longitudinal binary fission. = =**3.** The trophozoites remain in the lumen of the proximal small bowel where they can be free or attached = = to the mucosa by ventral sucking disk. = =**4.** Encystation occurs when the parasites transit toward the colon, and cysts are the stage found in normal feces. = =**5.** The cysts are handy, can survive several months in cold water, and are responsible for transmission. = =**6.** Because the cysts are infectious when passed in the stool or shortly afterward, person-to-person transmission is possible. =