Giardiasis

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Sections available in full article Introduction, Presenting signs, Geographic incidence, Age predisposition, Sex predisposition, Breed predisposition, Pathogenesis, Etiology, Pathophysiology, Timecourse (incubation, duration), Diagnosis, Presenting problems, Client history, Clinical signs, Diagnostic investigation, Confirmation of diagnosis, Differential diagnosis, Treatment, Standard treatment, Prevention, Control, Prophylaxis, Sequelae, Prognosis, Expected response to treatment, Reasons for treatment failure, Sources, Publications, Vetstream contributor(s),
Contributors Dr Grace Mulcahy MVB PhD MRCVS
Dr Stephen Barr BVSc MVS PhD DipACVIM
Synonyms Giardiasis felis

Introduction

  • Cause : protozoan parasite of small intestine.
  • Signs : diarrhea.
  • Diagnosis : fecal examination by various tests.
  • Treatment : metronidazole, furazolidone or fenbendazole (currently there is no licensed claim for Giardia in cats).
  • Prognosis : good.

Diagnosis

Clinical signs

  • Occasional third eyelid protrusion associated with diarrhea.

Diagnosis

Differential diagnosis

  • Other causes of diarrhea.

Sequelae

Prognosis

  • Good - usually respond well to treatment.

Expected response to treatment

  • Resolution of diarrhea.

Reasons for treatment failure

  • Concurrent cause of diarrhea not treated.

Sources

Publications

Refereed papers

  • Scorza A V, Radecki S V & Lappin M R (2006)Efficacy of a combination of febantel, pyrantel, and praziquantel for the treatment of kittens experimentally infected withGiardiaspecies.J Feline Med Surg8, 7-13 PubMed.
  • Scorza A V & Lappin M R (2004)Metronidazole for the treatment of feline giardiasis.J Feline Med Surg.6(3), 157-160  PubMed.
  • Olson M E, Mosck D W & Ceri H (1996)The efficacy of a Giardia/amblia vaccine in kittens.Can J Vet Res60, 249-256.
  • Kirkpatrick C E & Farrell J P (1984)Feline giardiasis: observations on natural and induced infections.Am J Vet Res45(10), 2182-2188.
  • Zimmer J F (1987)Treatment of feline giardiasis with metronidazole.Cornell Vet77(4), 383-388.
  • Kirkpatrick C E (1988)Epizootiology of endoparasitic infections in pet dogs and cats presented to a veterinary teaching hospital.Vet Parasitol30(2), 113-124.
  • Barr S C & Bowman D D (1994)Giardiasis in dogs and cats.Comp Cont Ed16(5), 603-610.

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