FASTest® GIARDIA Strip

Giardia is known to be one of the most common enteric parasites in pocket pets, pets, farm and wild animals, as well as in humans (zoonosis) world-wide. The species Giardia duodenalis occurs in different animal species and humans in varying genotypes (A to G), which differ in their infectivity and their host spectrum. Types A and B have zoonotic potential, whereas the others are more or less host-specific. Newborns and young animals are mostly affected. Prevalences vary in cats and dogs, depending on age (> 70% under 1 year), husbandry (10% in single husbandry up to 100% in breedings and animal shelters) and immune status.

Transmission (direct contact, by contaminated food, water, objects, grooming and vectors like flies etc.) happens fecal-orally by ingestion of highly infectious and very resistant cysts being discharged by other animals or humans. Only five to ten cysts are enough to cause an infection.

Giardia duodenalis has an asexual life cycle. In the duodenum of the infected animals, two growth forms, so-called trophozoites, emerge from the incorporated cysts (excystment). These multiply by duplication and attach via suckers to the duodenal surface. Free trophozoites turn into their permanent forms, the cysts (encystment), especially in the ileum. These are excreted in large amounts (10e7/g feces) and mostly intermittent, i.e. not with every defecation. The prepatent period averages 5 to 16 days.

The main symptom of giardiasis is diarrhoea, more or less intensive, that can run from symptomatic (acute, chronic, self-limiting, periodic-intermittent or continuous) to asymptomatic. Independent on the progression, cysts and/or trophozoites can be egested (primarily with strong diarrhoea).

Giardia cysts can be differentiated from cysts of different coccidia species only by microscopically experienced people. This is also true for Giardia and Tritrichomonas foetus trophozoites. For that reason, modern aetiological coprodiagnostics using FASTest® GIARDIA Strip should be preferred to microscopical proof.

For epidemiological reasons, all clinically symptomatic and clinically asymptomatic animals should be tested with FASTest® GIARDIA Strip. This enables the veterinarian in the clinic to introduce a specific treatment as well as a broad prophylaxis.

• Test Principle :  Lateral flow
• Packaging :  25
• Pathogenic :  Giardia duodenalis