David Hinsley <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote
>Hello Everyone,
>
>We have been sent the following message and wondered if anybody on the GML
>could help us to provide an answer:
>
>"Can gerbils carry Giardia? My daughter came down with it and the only
>thing we can think of is we just got 2 baby gerbils and she kisses them
>every single day on the head"
>
>Thanks in advance - all the very best....
>
>David Hinsley,
>www.gerbils.org
This is what the Encyclopaedia Britannica says about Giardiasis
"Giardiasis.
The protozoan parasite Giardia lamblia (see photograph) causes the
diarrheal condition known as giardiasis. It is transmitted directly from
person to person, and the infection is quite frequent in crowded
institutions. Clinical symptoms include large, foul-smelling, fatty
stools, heartburn, malaise, and lethargy. The diarrhea is usually self-
limiting and many occurrences of the illness are undiagnosed, although a
chronic malabsorption of nutrients from the intestines may develop in
young infected children.
Diagnosis is established by finding the organism in stool specimens or
in intestinal washings. The disease is generally mild and mortality is
rare, specific therapy being available."
There is no mention of catching it from animals, and I have never seen a
reference to gerbils carrying this organism.
Gerbils can carry E. coli and Listeria. It is very rare for gerbils to
pass on any infectious agent to humans.
I hope this is helpful.
--
Julian
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* Jackie and Julian *
* [EMAIL PROTECTED] *
* National Gerbil Society *
* http://www.gerbils.co.uk/ *
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