The CDC recommends hand-washing and avoiding potentially contaminated food and untreated water. Boiling water contaminated with Giardia effectively kills infectious cysts. Chemical disinfectants or filters may be used. Iodine-based disinfectants are preferred over chlorination as the latter is ineffective at destroying cysts. Although the evidence linking the drinking of water in the North American wilderness and<unk>  has been questioned, a number of studies raise concern. Most if not all CDC verified backcountry<unk>  outbreaks have been attributed to water. Surveillance data (for 2013 and 2014) reports six outbreaks (96 cases) of waterborne<unk>  contracted from rivers, streams or springs and less than 1% of reported<unk>  cases are associated with outbreaks. Person-to-person transmission accounts for the majority of Giardia infections, and is usually associated with poor hygiene and sanitation.<unk>  often found on the surface of the ground, in the soil, in undercooked foods, and in water, and on hands that have not been properly cleaned after handling infected feces. Water-borne transmission is associated with the ingestion of contaminated water. In the U.S., outbreaks typically occur in small water systems using inadequately treated surface water. Venereal transmission happens through fecal-oral contamination. Additionally, diaper changing and inadequate handwashing are risk factors for transmission from infected children. Lastly, food-borne epidemics of Giardia have developed through the contamination of food by infected food-handlers. Vaccine There are no vaccines for humans yet, however there are several vaccine candidates in development. They are targeting: recombinant proteins, DNA vaccine, variant-specific surface proteins (VSP), cyst wall proteins (CWP), giadins and enzymes. At present, one commercially available vaccine exists – GiardiaVax, made from G. lamblia whole trophozoite lysate. It is a vaccine for veterinary use only in dogs and cats. GiardiaVax should promote production of specific antibodies.
Giardiasis
Irritable bowel syndrome
Cryptosporidiosis
Cyclosporiasis
Eosinophilic gastroenteritis
Dientamoebiasis
Opisthorchiasis
Amoebiasis