[ 68] In a systematic review and meta-analysis of seven trials comprising 639 patients to evaluate the efficacy of mebendazole in children with giardiasis, investigators
Several drugs can be used to treat Giardia infection
They found that for giardiasis, the efficacy of a three day, higher dose treatment course of metronidazole (93 – 100% eficacy) was comparable to that of the more conventional
Healthcare providers can
Several effective treatments are currently available for patients with symptomatic giardiasis (see the accompanying table)
Made it 3
Infection with Giardia does not appear to cause permanent immunity and so reinfection can occur, a finding that also hampers assessment of treatment studies
“It’s probably one of the safest drugs we use in veterinary medicine,” he says
Metronidazole is one of the mainstay drugs for the treatment of anaerobic bacterial infections, protozoal infections, and microaerophilic bacterial infections
Cure rate was 100% with no toxicity noted
Albendazole is probably of similar effectiveness to metronidazole, probably has fewer side effects, and has the advantage of a simplified regimen
Giardia infection in dogs may lead to weight loss, chronic intermittent diarrhea, and fatty stool
1997 Nov;54 (5):679-708
For the treatment of Giardia infection in felines, the recommended dose of metronidazole is 10-25 mg/kg twice daily for 5 days
Most infections of veterinary health importance are by G duodenalis, a species complex of different genotypes that tend to show host specificity; production animals, companion animals, and wildlife can all be infected
Giardia can be spread to other animals and is also a protozoal parasite with zoonotic potential, meaning it can spread to people
Giardia lamblia is a pathogenic protozoan presenting as the main characteristic, the trophozoite capacity to adhere in host intestinal epithelium, infecting mammals, including humans
Veterinarians have historically prescribed a metronidazole product intended for humans when treating their animal patients for Giardia duodenalis
Fenbendazole (a trade-name is Panacur) in granules or powder form can be used in dogs as young as 6 weeks of age and in some studies has been shown to be 100% effective against Giardia
They may last for months (especially if left untreated) and long-term effects may include significant weight loss and malnutrition