Giardia Essay

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Running head: Giardia Giardia Carla Linder University of Phoenix Abstract In the follow document you will learn how to identify the causes, view a list of the symptoms, and observe the treatment, diagnosis, and prevention associated with the parasite giardia also known as amoeba parasites. Giardiasis is the most frequently diagnosed intestinal parasitic disease in the United States. Giardia lamblia is a protozoa (an amoebic parasite) and it lives in the water, food, and soil. Giardia or amoeba parasites The infectious agent or pathogen that causes this infectious disease is a microscopic parasite called Giardia lamblia. Giardia lamblia is a single celled organism that causes a diarrheal infection of the small intestines and is one of the most common parasites in the United States. Giardia lamblia is a flagellated protozoan parasite which means it is an organism with one or more whip-like organelles called flagella. Flagellum is a hair like appendage that protrudes from the cell body, and it is how the organism moves around. The infectious agent can be transmitted by ingesting or swallowing water, food, or soil that is contaminated with giardia cysts (hard shells containing giardia). Some examples would be public swimming pools or spas. This infection can also be transmitted through contact with surfaces which are contaminated like in a school or day care center, touching toys or even a diaper pail. Also through person-to-person contact, such as caring for an infected person or sexual contact A foodborne disease outbreak is defined as the occurrence of two or more similar illnesses resulting from ingestion of a common food. Between 1998 and 2010 according to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) there were seventeen confirmed outbreaks of giardia instestinalis in a multitude of states in the United States. Of

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