> In article <JarmeySwan.7.2E49DBD3 at bchm.unp.ac.za> JarmeySwan at bchm.unp.ac.za (Claire.Jarmey)Swan) writes:
> >
> >I am interested in methods of contracting, detecting these protozoa. Also any
> >statistics on cases due to giardia and cryptosporidium
>>Mark responded:> Contracting these is usually facilitated by ingestion of contaminated water
> or perhaps food if treated with contaminated water or handled by
> someone with the parasitewho also lacks sufficient higeine.
>> The infective stage in both protists is a cyst. Thus they can remain
> viable in the external environment for quite a while.
>
Giardia is interesting because it has alternate hosts in beaver and bear
and sometimes campers drinking "pure" mountain streams come down with
it. It is also a bit more common than you might think. We have had a
couple outbreaks here in the Iowa farm community.
--
James F. Mahaffy e-mail: mahaffy at dordt.edu
Biology Department phone: 712 722-6279
Dordt College FAX 712 722-1198
Sioux Center, Iowa 51250
