Giardia is the most common enteric protozoan pathogen of humans, domestic animals and wildlife. Children are at the most risk from the clinical consequences of Giardia infection, particularly those in developing countries and living in disadvantaged community settings. Molecular epidemiological studies have helped to elucidate sources of infection and the public health significance of animal reservoirs. Although aspects of the pathogenesis of Giardia infection are now understood, we are still a long way from understanding the factors that predispose to clinical disease. Effective drugs are available to treat giardial infections but can serve only as an adjunct to traditional public health approaches in endemic settings where children are commonly infected.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.