Update on the diagnosis and management of Giardia spp infections in dogs and cats

Sahatchai Tangtrongsup, DVM, MSc, and
Valeria Scorza, DVM, PhD
Topics in Companion Animal Medicine
Volume 25, Number 3
August 2010.

Giardia spp are flagellates that are found in the intestinal tract of humans and domestic and wildlife animals, including birds and amphibians, worldwide. The genus Giardia contains multiple species, which are for the most part morphologically indistinguishable. Recognized species of this genus are G. duodenalis, G. agilis, G. muris, G. microti, G. ardeae, and G. psittaci. Giardia duodenalis (syn. G. intestinalis or G. lamblia) is the species that infects people, dogs, and cats and is considered a species complex