Giardia: both a harmless commensal and a devastating pathogen

An extensive burden of giardiasis associated with intestinal schistosomiasis and anaemia in school children on the shoreline of Lake Albert, Uganda

“…Although all were sufficiently fit to attend school, more general markers of ill-health, such as anaemia (25.7%) and faecal occult blood (11.0%), revealed an underlying morbidity, as previously seen in this area 31,32 . Along the lakeshore, access to tap water is still very poor which no doubt helps both intestinal schistosomiasis and giardiasis flourish 17,[33][34][35] . Moreover, a concurrent malacological survey of the shoreline was undertaken and found numerous snails shedding schistosome cercariae 36 , as several times before 5,37 .…”

“…In low and middle income countries, prevalence of human giardiasis can vary widely, typically from 0-30%, and depending on which diagnostic is applied, can be almost universal in certain populations 16,17 . Although infections with Giardia spp.…”

Subclinical Giardia in dogs: a veterinary conundrum relevant to human infection

“…However, concomitant diseases and other physical stresses may also be important. Malnutrition, for example, has been implicated as an element that can result in a harmless commensal becoming pathogenic in human infection [31].…”

Clues to uncommon and easily overlooked infectious diagnoses affecting the GI tract and distinction from their clinicopathologic mimics

“…[118][119][120] Chronic infection occurs in approximately half of infected individuals, and patients may present with loose stools, flatulence, malabsorption, and weight loss. In children, impaired growth and cognitive development can result from iron and micronutrient deficiencies.…”