Zoonotic potential of giardiasis in domestic ruminants
Article Abstract:
Giardia is a parasite of the small intestine that causes diarrhea and dysentery. It can be found in humans and domestic animals. Giardiasis is transmitted by fecal matter containing giardia cysts. Giardia duodenalis is said to be zoonotic because it is a strain of giardia that has the potential to infect both humans and domestic animals. Cases of giardiasis in sheep and cattle have been reported in Europe, Africa and North America. Since the giardia organism has the potential for being zoonotic it is important to identify sources of infection and factors that influence its transmission. The prevalence and zoonotic potential of giardiasis were evaluated in sheep and cattle in Alberta, Canada. Fecal samples were obtained from the animals and analyzed for the presence of giardia. Out of 254 animals studied, 17.7 percent of the sheep and 10.4 percent of the cattle were positive for giardia. Lambs (35.6 percent) and calves (27.7 percent) had higher rates of giardia infection than sheep and cattle. Giardia cysts were isolated from the blood of sheep and compared with giardia isolated from human blood. The forms of giardia isolated from sheep and humans had similar antigens on their cell membranes. Clinical symptoms of giardia infection and the presence of cysts in fecal material were similar in sheep and humans. It is concluded that giardiasis is a zooanthroponotic disease, so that domestic animals may provide a reservoir for human infection and vice versa. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)
Publication Name: Journal of Infectious Diseases
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0022-1899
Year: 1990
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The Cycle of Violence: Revisited 6 Years Later
Article Abstract:
Children who are abused are more likely to be arrested for violent and non-violent crimes as adults. Researchers analyzed arrest records of 908 adults who had been abused as children and 667 adults who had not. The childhood abuse was documented by court records. Half of the abused children had been arrested as adults for any non-traffic offense, compared to 38% of those not abused. Eighteen percent of the abused children were arrested as adults for a violent crime compared to 14% of those not abused.
Publication Name: Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine
Subject: Health
ISSN: 1072-4710
Year: 1996
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