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GIARDIASIS IN WASHINGTON STATE
Citation:
Frost, F., L. Harter, B. Plan, K. Fukutaki, AND B. Holman. GIARDIASIS IN WASHINGTON STATE. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/1-82/016.
Description:
The objective was to determine the potential for transmission of giardiasis through approved drinking water supplies in Washington State. The project consisted of five studies: the first was conducted during trapping seasons (1976-1979) and resulted in examining of 656 beaver stool samples, 172 muskrat and 83 other animal stools. Positivity for beaver was 10.8%, for muskrat, 51.2%. No Giardia was found in other mammals. The second study contacted 865 Giardia-infected Washington state residents to identify likely sources or possible risk factors for infection. Clusters of cases were linked to day care centers, backpacker groups or sites for drawing water on outings and foreign travel. No excess cases were observed for users of surface drinking water supplies. The third study was a case-control study to identify risk factors for giardiasis.