Giardia is one of the species of unicellular parasites that lives in the small intestine of a person. They can be infected everywhere, the way of infection - dirty hands, unwashed vegetables and unboiled water. In seventy percent of the cases identified, children under the age of fourteen suffer from giardiasis. Infection can occur in two forms: acute and chronic. The acute form is characterized by dyspeptic manifestations, the chronic stage promotes the spread of pathological processes and the involvement of other internal organs in them. That is why chronic infection manifests a large number of extraintestinal manifestations. Started on time treatment helps prevent unwanted complications. Understanding what kinds of giardiasis are, what kinds of lamblias are parasitic inside the human body, help to detect the first signs of infection in time and take the necessary measures to eliminate it.
Two forms of lamblia
The life cycle of lamblia takes place within the framework of one organism. It assumes the existence of two kinds of giardias, one kind of protozoa flagellated microorganisms can be regenerated into another:
- Parasitization is carried out due to the existence of a vegetative form of lamblia. It is called trophozoite( from the Greek "trophos" - food).
- All adverse conditions of existence the simplest flagellar microorganisms survive in the form of cysts.
Trophozoite lamblia
Cysts enter the body by the oral route. When swallowed more than ten cysts, infection occurs, which leads to the development of intestinal lambliasis. In the stomach, the cyst shell retains its integrity. It safely experiences the impact of an aggressive environment and, together with partially digested food, gets further into the duodenum. There, under the action of bile, the cyst is revealed, two viable trophozoites are born from each spore. The vegetative form of lamblia is small( 14x9 μm).The structure of a single-celled parasite is extremely simple: the body has a pear-shaped form. It is constant, since the body is protected from above with a pellicle( armor).Inside, there are two cores. Along the edges of the body there are several pairs of flagella, with their help the vegetative form of giardi moves in the lumen of the small intestine.
The upper surface of the simplest flagellum has a bulge that looks like a hump. The abdomen is flat, there is a suction disk on it. With it, the vegetative form of giardias attaches to the villi of the mucous layer of the small intestine and absorbs the parietal juices. Lamblias are asexual unicellular parasites, reproduction occurs due to longitudinal division. Mature protozoa microscopic parasites break up into two cells. The whole process of division takes only twenty minutes. In a short time a huge colony grows. There are cases when up to a million microscopic parasites of the described species are placed on one square centimeter.
Trophozoites are prone to migration. They easily break away from their "hard" place and with the help of flagella move further, moving into the lumen of the large intestine. It is there that mobile species of flagellate parasites become cysts or die. That's why it's rather difficult to find live trophozoite in the feces of an infected patient. But this also happens. A living variety is often found in the patient's liquid stool. When analyzing such stool produced within an hour after collection, both living microorganisms and cysts are detected.
Cyst of lamblia
Cysts along with feces go outside in the external environment. There they are able to survive under certain conditions for two months. Cyst is a special kind of lamblia, which is in complete rest. It is half the size of a movable microscopic parasite, differs in that it has an oval shape. Inside, under a very strong shell, there are two cores( if the cyst is immature) and four( if the cyst is mature).A similar kind of lamblia is formed in the large intestine. One infected person produces an average of about two million viable cysts a year. That is why a microscopic parasite is so widespread. Reproduction of giardias occurs undulating. There are "empty gaps" when the cysts in the stool of the patient can not be detected. This explains why, when suspected of the described type of infection, multiple feces and feces are analyzed, which is carried out in the period of 4-5 weeks.
As already mentioned above, all kinds of lamblia can enter the external environment. The vegetative form dies within the first half hour. She is afraid of ultraviolet, the effect of chlorine kills them instantly. The cyst is much more stable. Under certain favorable conditions( air temperature +2, +6 degrees, humidity 80-100%), the immobile form of the parasite lives for four months. Experiencing the described type of lamblia and the effect of acids. That's why, getting into the stomach, the cyst shell does not collapse under the influence of hydrochloric acid.
At temperatures above +13 degrees Cysts perish. Quickly this type of lamblia perishes and when boiled. Disastrous for microscopic parasites is cold( -13 degrees and below).
What types of Giardiasis are dangerous?
The greatest harm to health brings parasitic vegetative type lamblia. Eating juxtaposition juices, they "steal" a person. It lacks nutrients, and this leads to a gradual deterioration in health. During its life, the vegetative type lamblia reproduces a large number of toxins. They are absorbed into the blood, cause toxic reactions, capable of disrupting the work of many internal organs. The mechanical effect on the walls of the mucosa provokes the formation of extensive foci of inflammation. It is easy to get involved in organs located nearby. That is why a variety of polyphonic symptoms become possible, which are the basis of the clinical manifestation of the described type of Giardiasis.
Knowing what types of lamblia live inside the body, what are the forms and varieties of the existence of giardias, you can try to prevent infection.