Life Cycle of Giardia
Giardia intestinalis is a protozoan flagellate (Diplomonadida) responsible for the disease giardiasis. Giardia is found in soil, contaminated food, or water, with the most common mode of transmission being water (drinking and recreational water). While the trophozoite stage can multiply outside a host for a short time under specific conditions, the complete life cycle of Giardia requires an in vivo (within a living host) environment.
Cyst ingestion starts the infection process in the host, followed by the parasite’s trophozoite form excysting and colonizing the small intestine. Among the most basic developmental processes in eukaryotes are encystation and excystation, and their characterization may provide crucial insights into more complex developmental processes.
Giardia Life Cycle
The Giardia life cycle starts in contaminated water or food, where cysts are ingested and then transform into trophozoites in the host’s intestines. Understanding Giardia life cycle stages and transmission helps in implementing effective prevention strategies and minimizing the spread of this parasitic infection.
In this article, we will cover in detail the life cycle of Giardia and its diagram.
Table of Content
- Life Cycle of Giardia
- Giardia Life Cycle Stages
- 1. Cyst
- 2. Excystation
- 3. Trophozoites
- 4. Encystation
- Scientific Classification of Giardia
- Morphology
- Feeding/ Trophozoite stage
- Cyst (Infective Stage)
- Pathogenesis
- Mode of transmission:
- Symptoms
- Diagonsis
- Treatment and Prevention
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