Skip to main content
PMC home page
Canadian Medical Association Journal logoLink to Canadian Medical Association Journal
. 1978 Aug 12;119(3):241-2, 247-8.

Person-to-person transmission of Giardia lamblia in day-care nurseries.

J S Keystone, S Krajden, M R Warren
PMCID: PMC1818164  PMID: 679128

Abstract

In an outbreak of giardiasis at two day-care nurseries in metropolitan Toranto Giardia lamblia appeared to be transmitted person to person. No common source of infection could be found. The proportions of children infected in the two nurseries were 39% and 17%; infection was spread to 7% and 23% of their household contacts. Of the infected children and household contacts 26% and 30% respectively of those for whom detailed information could be obtained were symptomatic. Canadian children were more likely to be infected and symptomatic than were immigrant children attending the nurseries. The most susceptible ages for infection were 1 to 3 years. The results of this study suggest that all children in day-care nurseries who are infected with G. lamblia should be treated, regardless of whether they are symptomatic.

Full text

PDF
242

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Ament M. E. Diagnosis and treatment of giardiasis. J Pediatr. 1972 Apr;80(4):633–637. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3476(72)80061-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Ament M. E., Rubin C. E. Relation of giardiasis to abnormal intestinal structure and function in gastrointestinal immunodeficiency syndromes. Gastroenterology. 1972 Feb;62(2):216–226. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Black R. E., Dykes A. C., Sinclair S. P., Wells J. G. Giardiasis in day-care centers: evidence of person-to-person transmission. Pediatrics. 1977 Oct;60(4):486–491. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Brandborg L. L., Tankersley C. B., Gottieb S., Barancik M., Sartor V. E. Histological demonstration of mucosal invasion by Giardia lamblia in man. Gastroenterology. 1967 Feb;52(2):143–150. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Giannella R. A., Broitman S. A., Zamcheck N. Influence of gastric acidity on bacterial and parasitic enteric infections. A perspective. Ann Intern Med. 1973 Feb;78(2):271–276. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-78-2-271. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Goel K. M., Shanks R. A., McAllister T. A., Follett E. A. Prevalence of intestinal parasitic infestation, salmonellosis, brucellosis, tuberculosis, and hepatitis B among immigrant children in Glasgow. Br Med J. 1977 Mar 12;1(6062):676–679. doi: 10.1136/bmj.1.6062.676. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Kamath K. R., Murugasu R. A comparative study of four methods for detecting Giardia lamblia in children with diarrheal disease and malabsorption. Gastroenterology. 1974 Jan;66(1):16–21. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Mahmoud A. A., Warren K. S. Algorithms in the Diagnosis and Management of Exotic Diseases. ii. Giardiasis. J Infect Dis. 1975 May;131(5):621–624. doi: 10.1093/infdis/131.5.621. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Moore G. T., Cross W. M., McGuire D., Mollohan C. S., Gleason N. N., Healy G. R., Newton L. H. Epidemic giardiasis at a ski resort. N Engl J Med. 1969 Aug 21;281(8):402–407. doi: 10.1056/NEJM196908212810802. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Roberts-Thomson I. C., Stevens D. P., Mahmoud A. A., Warren K. S. Acquired resistance to infection in an animal model of giardiasis. J Immunol. 1976 Nov;117(5 PT2):2036–2037. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Thomas M. E., Tillett H. E. Sonne dysentery in day schools and nurseries: an eighteen-year study in Edmonton. J Hyg (Lond) 1973 Sep;71(3):593–602. doi: 10.1017/s0022172400046593. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Walzer P. D., Wolfe M. S., Schultz M. G. Giardiasis in travelers. J Infect Dis. 1971 Aug;124(2):235–237. doi: 10.1093/infdis/124.2.235. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Weissman J. B., Gangorosa E. J., Schmerler A., Marier R. L., Lewis J. N. Shigellosis in day-care centres. Lancet. 1975 Jan 11;1(7898):88–90. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(75)91086-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Williams S. V., Huff J. C., Bryan J. A. Hepatitis A and facilities for preschool children. J Infect Dis. 1975 Apr;131(4):491–495. doi: 10.1093/infdis/131.4.491. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Wolfe M. S. Giardiasis. N Engl J Med. 1978 Feb 9;298(6):319–321. doi: 10.1056/NEJM197802092980606. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Yardley J. H., Bayless T. M. Giardiasis. Gastroenterology. 1967 Feb;52(2):301–304. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Yoeli M., Most H., Hammond J., Scheinesson G. P. Parasitic infections in a closed community. Results of a 10-year survey in Willowbrook State School. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 1972;66(5):764–776. doi: 10.1016/0035-9203(72)90091-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Canadian Medical Association Journal are provided here courtesy of Canadian Medical Association

RESOURCES