Giardiasis Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Giardiasis - Research Paper Example Its existence in beavers informed the alternative name. Van Leeuwenhoek discovered Giardia in the year 1681, in the parasite’s trophozoite stage, though Giardia also exists in as cyst but Lambl developed more information on the parasite in the year 1959. The parasite was however believed to a non-toxic parasite until towards the year 1980 when it was known to cause diarrhea. The cyst stage of the parasite is a domant stage that allows Giardia to survive even in hostile environments. At this stage, the parasite can survive under cold temperatures, as cold as 80C. Giardia is common in water bodies such as streams and lakes (Chandlee, Clarke, Wisti, and Zucker, n.d.). Its primary habitant is the intestines of human beings and those of other animals and it is normally discharged in feces, and due to its ability to survive in its cyst form, can survive on or under the earth’s surface, and in water (The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011). In the United States, the infection is more prevalent among children between zero and 10 years old and adults between 35 and 49 years. Incidence rate also increased from the year 2009 to the year 2010, suggesting an increasing trend. Change in incidence rate by gender reflected this and incidence rate increased among Asians and Blacks but decreased among Native Americans and Whites. A total 19403 cases were reported in the year 2009 while 19888 cases were reported in the year 2010. The infection is also more prevalent in the northern region of the nation than in other regions and state incidence rates ranged from 2.6 cases per 100000 population to 29.6 cases per 100000 population (Yoder, Gargano, Wallace, and Beach, 2012). Globally, the infection is more prevalent in developing countries than it is in developed countries. While infection rates in developed countries such as in