I will do my best to organize my thoughts on this so that it doesn't sound like rambling.

What is Giardia?

Giardia is a protozoan parasite that is quite common in humans and animals. It is the most common parasite found in dogs, cats, birds, cows, etc.

Giardia colonizes in the small intestine. It is not spread through the bloodstream or through other parts of the gastrointestinal tract.

Once colonized, giardia absorbs nutrients from the walls of the small intestine.



HOW Is it spread?
Giardia can be spread by the injestion of contaminated water or food, or through "poop to mouth" contact. In other words, in places where there is poor hygiene. We all know that our gliders are not the most hygienic. So, if giardia exists in the poop of one glider, and the glider comes in contact with that poop and then goes to give him/herself a bath, the giardia is spread.

It can also be spread to humans if you don't wash very well after coming in contact with a glider or cage that is infected with giardia.

Not all giardia infections are symptomatic. So, it is possible for yourself or your pet to be an unknowing host.

Cysts are excreted in the feces. Giardia cysts are VERY hardy and can survive months, even in cold or heat. Cysts also can survive without "hatching" in the small intestine of a glider for long periods of time (dormancy). Stress cna trigger a chemical reaction that will move the giardia out of dormancy.


WHAT are SIGNS/SYMPTOMS?

Colonization in the small intestine results initially in inflammation. We can't see this in our gliders, so often the very first sign we have is a change in behavior since the glider will be uncomfortable.

Other symptoms include:
* diarrhea
* malaise
* nausea
* decreased appetite
* weight loss
* foul smelling stools (may smell sulphuric)
* pain - this is often the cause of SM. ALL CLOACAL SMING GLIDERS SHOULD BE TESTED FOR GIARDIA.

It is important to note that gliders may not exhibit ALL symptoms, so a vet visit is warranted when any symptom is noted.

While not fatal to humans, Giardia is known to be fatal to smaller animals.

Fast and effective treatment is necessary!

What is the TREATMENT for Giardia?

Treatment is usually flagyl (metronidazole)

PREVENTION?

To prevent recurrence and to aid in treatment, CLEAN, CLEAN, CLEAN.

* Cages, toys and bedding should be cleaned with bleach and/or other disinfectants. Minimize toys and items in the cage until the infection has passed.

* QUARANTINE. This is VERY important. Gliders must be kept in a separate cage. It is best if they are also in a separate room.

* Utilize a cage cover to minimize the chance of Poop being thrown outside of the cage

* Provide only bottled water

* Wash VERY well after handling a glider or cage infected with giardia. Change clothing that might have come in contact with infected surfaces immediately after handling the glider or cage. Disinfect door knobs, etc (any surface you might have touched) after as well. It is best if you wear gloves to do this type of cleaning.

Now that some strains of giardia are becoming resistant to flagyl (metronidazole), some vets are recommending a course of flagyl followed by a course of panacur. This can be repeated then the panacur alone repeated until the gliders are symptom-free and a SNAP test is negative.

My vet would wait until the gliders have been asymptomatic for about 3 weeks before retesting to save money and get a good final test. It can take several weeks for the giardia to repopulate enough to indicate a strong positive. So no symptoms after 3 weeks = a final test, symptoms develop during that time = another course of meds.

Yes, some strains (most actually) of Giardia are becoming resistant to just Flagyl/Metronidizole and most vets are now using it in conjuction with panacur or pyrental paomate (strongid)...Most of the time it takes several "rounds" of above anti-parasitic combos to rid the animal of Giardia...

As Dee said above...there needs to be at LEAST 3 weeks after the last dose of anti-parasitic medicine to re-test, before then the "load count" could be to low and produce a falsely negative test...One "all clear" test is not considered to be absolute...You will need to follow it up with at least another negative test 3 weeks after the first one

The cysts (eggs) are very very hardy and even bleach has been known not to be able to penetrate the shell. It takes almost autoclave temperatures to kill the cysts.

If you do have an outbreak of Giardia it might be considered wise to invest in a steamer. Daily cleaning of the entire cage/cages will be needed in order not to re-infect the animal/animals and a steamer will greatly reduce some of the time it takes to do so...

Giardia is one of the most under diagnosed of all the parasites. This is due to the incredibly small size of the cysts. I personally advise finding a vet that offers SNAP testing if you suspect your animal<s> of having Giardia. A SNAP test tests for the enzymes Giardia produces and doesnt rely on as heavy of a load count to produce a positive result...

Here is a Giardia cyst under the microscopes highest setting

Budding yeast (its divides to spread) on top with a Giardia cyst below

Adult Giardia under microscope (stained to show the "features")

I wanted to post that my vet here told me there is a potential new treatment for Giardia. It's name is Alinia. It's generic is Nitazoxanide. It is an antiprotozoal agent.

Nitazoxanide is used to treat diarrhea in adults and children caused by the protozoa Giardia lamblia. Nitazoxanide is also used to treat diarrhea caused by the protozoa Cryptosporidium parvum. These conditions are also sometimes referred to as travelers' diarrhea.

Now, I don't know the dosage but it is another treatment that is being used. I hope this is info people can take to their vet to discuss if the problem arises in your home!

I was also told that a SNAP test done at my vet's office often times only catches the antigen 50% of the time and that samples really should be sent off the a lab for better results when looking for the antigen and not just the actual protozoa.

Great info, always amazes me that something I think looks cute like a stingray can be so deadly.