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Cryptosporidium and Giardia Analysis and Testing Laboratory Services
Cryptosporidiosis is a intestinal disease caused by microscopic parasites of the genus Cryptosporidium. It causes severe diarrhea and is typically self limiting. Both the disease and the parasite are commonly known as Crypto (CDC info page).Many species of Cryptosporidium exist that infect humans and a wide range of animals. The parasite is protected by an outer shell that allows it to survive outside the body for long periods of time and makes it very resistant to chlorine disinfection. (See EPA Advisory)
While this parasite can be transmitted in several different ways, water is a common method of transmission and Cryptosporidium is one of the most frequent causes of waterborne disease (drinking water and recreational water) among humans in the United States.
Giardiasis is an intestinal infection caused by the protozoan Giardia lamblia. Symptoms of giardia infection are diarrhea, abdominal cramps, pale and greasy stools, fatigue, bloating, and weight loss. Diarrhea may last for days or weeks, or may come and go. Symptoms vary from person to person. Some people with Giardiasis have no symptoms at all. Symptoms usually start from five to 25 days after swallowing the cyst. People and animals infected with giardiasis pass it in their stool. People become infected either by direct hand-to-mouth transfer from the stool of an infected person or indirectly by swallowing water that has been contaminated with stool that contains giardia (when swimming in ponds, drinking from streams, etc.).
Our Laboratory is completely equipped for environmental parasitology and possesses all the equipment necessary for performing EPA Method 1623 for analysis of Cryptosporidium and Giardia.