Giardia duodenalis in the UK: current knowledge of risk factors and public health implications

Giardia duodenalis is a ubiquitous flagellated protozoan parasite known to cause giardiasis throughout the world. Potential transmission vehicles for this zoonotic parasite are both water and food sources. As such consumption of water contaminated by feces, or food sources washed in contaminated wat...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Parasitology 2019-04, Vol.146 (4), p.413-424
Main Authors: Horton, B., Bridle, H., Alexander, C. L., Katzer, F.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Complications
Costs
Cysts
Disease
Epidemiology
Food
Food consumption
Food contamination
Food contamination & poisoning
Food sources
Giardia
Giardia duodenalis
Giardia lamblia - physiology
Giardiasis
Giardiasis - diagnosis
Giardiasis - epidemiology
Giardiasis - transmission
Giardiasis - veterinary
Health risks
Humans
Infections
Laboratories
Livestock
Outbreaks
Parasites
Protozoa
Public Health
Risk analysis
Risk Factors
United Kingdom
Water consumption
Water pollution
Zoonoses
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Summary:Giardia duodenalis is a ubiquitous flagellated protozoan parasite known to cause giardiasis throughout the world. Potential transmission vehicles for this zoonotic parasite are both water and food sources. As such consumption of water contaminated by feces, or food sources washed in contaminated water containing parasite cysts, may result in outbreaks. This creates local public health risks which can potentially cause widespread infection and long-term post-infection sequelae. This paper provides an up-to-date overview of G. duodenalis assemblages, sub-assemblages, hosts and locations identified. It also summarizes knowledge of potential infection/transmission routes covering water, food, person-to-person infection and zoonotic transmission from livestock and companion animals. Public health implications focused within the UK, based on epidemiological data, are discussed and recommendations for essential Giardia developments are highlighted.
ISSN:0031-1820
1469-8161
DOI:10.1017/S0031182018001683