Giardia

Re: Giardia

Michael Woodhouse — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 22:59:06 GMT

[quote user="Caroline Loach"]So far have only used fenbendazole want to avoid metronidazole if possible esp as may not even be still infected.[/quote]

I've been disappointed in the past having a couple of dogs treated with Panacur then re-test positive for the giardia. I tend to reach for the metronidazole for a week as first line now [naughty naughty] and have never had one fail to cure. I don't even routinely test them after treatment if diarrhoea has gone away (I felt I had to with Panacur).

Re: Giardia

Caroline Loach — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 20:46:56 GMT

We have had a problem recently in shelter ferrets but the disadvantage in PCR is at least in dogs it seems to remain positive after cure as it can respond to dead giardia hanging around but no-one seems to know if this is true in ferrets. we are still getting positives on pcr but negative on faecal flotation. The ferrets are better than before but still occasional diarr and not putting on weight that they lost. Of course biggest problem is reinfection from environment but have bleached on several occasions. So far have only used fenbendazole want to avoid metronidazole if possible esp as may not even be still infected. Any suggestions ideas appreciated.

Re: Giardia

Bob Russell — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 13:43:29 GMT

We manage to diagnose it all too frequently - our lab seems good at picking them up and we are now using the Speed Giardia tests. We immediately jump for Fenbendazole as first line treatment. Mostly younger animals so worst case scenario it will deal with roundworm parasites. Safe and easy - many do well either because treatment works or the self-limiting comes into play.

Occasionally have needed to reach for the metronidazole but only if faecal samples remain positive or we run out of other ideas!!!!

Re: Giardia

Martin Atkinson — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 09:47:32 GMT

[quote user="Charlotte Marshall"]

the test being used more commonly nowadays is more sensitive than simple faecal examination and will give positive results in animals with apparent clinical cure after treatment.

[/quote]

Giardia was notoriously difficult to diagnose as it is not voided in faeces continuously (as I know from personal experience putting up with it for 3 months) but the PCR method is more reliable. I feel it is a case of previous failure of diagnosis rather than increased cases and because it is largely self-limiting, cases get better despite no treatment but all those naughty vets who hand out metronidazole without a diagnosis may have been right all along.

Re: Giardia

Andre Escudeiro-Vieites — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 23:20:17 GMT

Thanks!

Re: Giardia

Charlotte Marshall — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 22:47:58 GMT

I haven't noticed an increase in cases lately although I have one large breeding kennels where it appears to be endemic. However I have discovered that the test being used more commonly nowadays is more sensitive than simple faecal examination and will give positive results in animals with apparent clinical cure after treatment. (I did have a discussion about giardia on the Idexx help forum - I don't know how to link to that here, you might be interested to read it).

Re: Giardia

Andre Escudeiro-Vieites — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 21:40:36 GMT

So, nobody out there has noticed an increase in number Giardiasis cases?

Is it only in our area, or more worrying, only in our practice?

I will ask the CAPL people again what is going on elswhere.

Re: Giardia

Andre Escudeiro-Vieites — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 16:33:47 GMT

We have seen an important increase in the number of positives this last few months and this was confirmed with the external lab we use for faecal analysis. This is, we are not the only practice having this increase in the number of cases. Is it the weather? What are your experiencies and ideas?