Giardia lamblia: Characteristics and Taxonomy

Giardia lamblia

Nomenclature

• Giardia lamblia is a species of Giardia, a genus of flagellated protozoan parasites
• Synonyms: Giardia duodenalis and Giardia intestinalis
• Note: Giardia duodenalis and Giardia intestinalis are often used interchangeably, but some sources consider them to be distinct species or subspecies

Taxonomy

• Kingdom: Protista
• Phylum: Metamonada
• Class: Trepomonadea
• Order: Diplomonadida
• Family: Giardiidae
• Genus: Giardia
• Species: Giardia lamblia (including G. duodenalis and G. intestinalis)

Characteristics

• Giardia lamblia is a parasitic protozoan that infects the small intestine of mammals, including humans
• It has a distinctive teardrop shape, with two nuclei and four pairs of flagella
• The parasite has a simple life cycle, consisting of trophozoite and cyst stages
• Trophozoites are the motile, feeding stage found in the small intestine
• Cysts are the infectious stage, found in contaminated water and food

Epidemiology

• Giardia lamblia is a common intestinal parasite worldwide, affecting both developed and developing countries
• It is a major cause of diarrheal disease, particularly in children, travelers, and individuals with compromised immune systems
• Transmission occurs through the fecal-oral route, with contaminated water and food being the primary sources of infection

Giardia lamblia

Nomenclature

• A species of Giardia, a genus of flagellated protozoan parasites
• Also known as Giardia duodenalis and Giardia intestinalis, although some sources consider them distinct species or subspecies

Classification

• Kingdom: Protista
• Phylum: Metamonada
• Class: Trepomonadea
• Order: Diplomonadida
• Family: Giardiidae
• Genus: Giardia
• Species: Giardia lamblia

Characteristics

• A parasitic protozoan that infects the small intestine of mammals, including humans
• Teardrop-shaped with two nuclei and four pairs of flagella
• Has a simple life cycle consisting of trophozoite and cyst stages
• Trophozoites are motile and feeding, found in the small intestine
• Cysts are the infectious stage, found in contaminated water and food

Epidemiology

• A common intestinal parasite worldwide, affecting both developed and developing countries
• A major cause of diarrheal disease, particularly in children, travelers, and individuals with compromised immune systems
• Transmission occurs through the fecal-oral route, primarily through contaminated water and food

This quiz covers the characteristics, taxonomy, and nomenclature of Giardia lamblia, a species of flagellated protozoan parasites. Learn about its synonyms, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species.