Giardia infection (giardiasis) is one of the most common causes of waterborne disease in the United States.

Giardia infection (giardiasis) is one of the most common causes of waterborne disease in the United States.

G. duodenalis, a single celled protozoa, is the most frequent cause of non-bacterial diarrhea in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates as many as 2.5 million cases of Giardia infection occur annually in the U.S. Symptomatic individuals may experience diarrhea, abdominal cramps, dehydration, malabsorption, loss of appetite, anemia, and weight loss 1-2 weeks following the ingestion of cysts. Typically symptoms will last 1-2 weeks and infections are self-limiting. Most individuals will be completely asymptomatic. Prevalence of giardiasis in adults has been estimated to be 4-7%. Higher prevalence rates have been reported in children.

G. lamblia is a flagellated protozoan parasite that colonizes and reproduces in the small intestine. G. lamblia causes giardiasis. Giardiasis does not spread via the bloodstream, nor does it spread to other parts of the gastrointestinal tract. Giardiasis remains in the lumen of the small intestine. Chronic infection with Giardia may abate and the patient could become asymptomatic. Asymptomatic individuals may become reservoirs for spreading the infection. Antibodies against G. lamblia may cross-react with human tissue antigens such as tubulin, actin, actinin, tropomyosin and others. The end result may be autoimmunity against those tissues.

What is Giardia lamblia?

Giardia lamblia—also known as Giardia intestinalis or Giardia duodenalis—is a microscopic protozoan parasite that infects the small intestine. It is one of the most common causes of parasitic gastrointestinal infections worldwide, affecting both children and adults.

Giardia spreads through contaminated water, food, or surfaces, and is especially common in areas with poor sanitation or in people who travel, camp, or drink untreated water.

On stool testing panels like the Vibrant Wellness Gut Zoomer, Giardia lamblia is included to detect active parasitic infections that may be causing symptoms like diarrhea, fatigue, or malabsorption.

Elevated antibody levels can be clinically significant — while the antibodies themselves don’t destroy anything, they do trigger an inflammatory response that can cause significant destruction of tissue and resulting symptoms. This response is not necessarily dependent on antibody levels. However, an equivocal result may mean you are just beginning to exhibit an immune reaction, so this is an important time to take measures to support the body in damping immune reactivity.

The wheat tested is the full kernel containing the protein constituents of wheat. This includes what may be on or in the wheat kernel. These are gluten proteins, and non-gluten proteins (non-gluten proteins A and B and Wheat Germ Agglutinins). A positive result to wheat means that your digestive system is not absorbing these proteins well, therefore your immune system starts producing antibodies to gluten or non-gluten part(s) of wheat.

The wheat tested is the full kernel containing the protein constituents of wheat. This includes what may be on or in the wheat kernel. These are gluten proteins, and non-gluten proteins (non-gluten proteins A and B and Wheat Germ Agglutinins). A positive result to wheat means that your digestive system is not absorbing these proteins well, therefore your immune system starts producing antibodies to gluten or non-gluten part(s) of wheat.

Gliotoxin (GTX) is produced by the mold genus Aspergillus. Aspergillus spreads in the environment by releasing conidia which are capable of infiltrating the small alveolar airways of individuals.

Gliotoxin is produced by the mold genus Aspergillus. Aspergillus spreads in the environment by releasing conidia which are capable of infiltrating the small alveolar airways of individuals.