Differences for “ Giardia ”

Also known as Giardiasis, Giardosis, Lambliasis, Lambliosis.
  
= What is it? =
Giardiasis is the disease caused by infection of an organism of the genus 
//Giardia//.  They are protozoal parasites that can be contracted from 
contaminated food/water sources. Giardiasis is not a common disease, especially 
for sugar gliders in captivity. Additionally, they are not born with it. This 
disease can lead to the death of a sugar glider if untreated.  
  
= Signs of infection =
A sugar glider infected with //Giardia// will have diarrhea, and may suffer 
nausea and can be lethargic.  Diarrhea in sugar gliders can lead to 
dehydration.  Another sign is steatorrhea, which is excess fat in the stool, 
and can give stool a white or pale coloration and foul odor.  These symptoms 
may be signs of other problems or other types of infections, all of which 
require veterinary care. 
  
= How the disease is spread =
//Giardia// infects from via a fecal to oral path.  This means that any surface 
that comes into contact with feces from an infected animal has the potential to 
infect other animals, humans included, that may touch those surfaces and then 
end up touching the mouth in some way.  This disease is [[Zoonotic]], which 
means that the disease can pass from species to species.  
  
Note: if humans contract Giardia, it is potentially deadly if not treated 
promptly. If you or your gliders have any signs of Giardia, an immediate vet 
and doctor visit should occur.
  
Cysts that are excreted from an animal can exist outside of an organism and 
potentially infect or reinfect for up to a month.  This makes getting rid of a 
//Giardia// infestation extremely difficult.
  
A sugar glider cage is extremely dirty, as well as the sugar gliders 
themselves.  The cloaca of a sugar glider comes into contact with every part of 
the cage, so the entire cage should be considered contaminated.  The gliders 
themselves can be contaminated, especially their fur, as cysts excreted from 
the cloaca can contaminate any surface. 
  
<Footnote(Giardia in sugar gliders is the same as giardia in dogs/cats as 
far as transmission and clinical disease.  A board certified parasitologist 
confirmed that marsupials are affected the same as dogs/cats.)>
  
= Detection =
Generally, a trip to the vet is necessary to confirm a //Giardia// infection.  
A fecal analysis will need to be performed including a direct smear of fresh 
feces.  Unfortunately, because of the diarrhea, multiple fecal tests may be 
necessary for detection.  Left untreated, Giardia causes inflammation of the 
intestinal tract which can also lead to poor absorption of nutrients.
  
A video can be found on 
[http://www.idexx.com/animalhealth/testkits/giardia_canine/giardiavideo.jsp 
idexx.com], which sells a home detection device, that demonstrates the life 
cycle of Giardia.
  
= What your vet should tell you =
As new medical information becomes available to veterinarians, the medication 
administered may change.  Your vet should be more knowledgeable than this 
resource regarding type types and amounts of medication to give your glider.  
  
Your vet should give you explicit instructions on quarantining your animal and 
should also stress the importance of cleaning.  Your vet should give you 
instructions on how regular you need to be cleaning the cage and what sort of 
precautions you should take in order to prevent infection with other animals or 
humans in the household. In an immune compromised individual, it can be life 
threatening.
  
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== SEE ALSO ==
[http://www.sugarglider.com/glidergossip/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=21484 Giardia 
Centrifuge]
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[http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/21300.htm Merck 
Veterinary Manual - Giardiasis]
  
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Additional Footnote sources cited:
  
Katie Phillips, DVM, Dublin Animal Hospital, Colorado Springs, CO
  
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