A rapid and inexpensive method for the isolation and identification of .

This work details a protocol for the isolation of species from their host animals and their identification based on their morphological and molecular characteristics. are intestinal protozoan parasites found in almost all vertebrates and the epidemiology of has attracted the attention of scientists due to their harm to humans and live stocks worldwide. trophozoites adhere to the surface of host's intestines using their ventral disc, and they also adhere the culture tube wall during in vitro culturing.

An investigation of the prevalence of in anuran amphibians from fourteen areas in China.

is a species which is morphological distinguishable for its very narrow and elongated trophozoite. Although there were a few studies about its morphology since its first report in 1882, none investigations about its prevalence have ever been reported to date. We investigated the prevalence of in 25 anuran amphibian species from five provinces of China using both morphological and molecular methods.

Sense-antisense gene overlap is probably a cause for retaining the few introns in Giardia genome and the implications.

Background: It is widely accepted that the last eukaryotic common ancestor and early eukaryotes were intron-rich and intron loss dominated subsequent evolution, thus the presence of only very few introns in some modern eukaryotes must be the consequence of massive loss. But it is striking that few eukaryotes were found to have completely lost introns. Despite extensive research, the causes of massive intron losses remain elusive.

A new species of Giardia Künstler, 1882 (Sarcomastigophora: Hexamitidae) in hamsters.

Background: Giardia spp. are flagellated protozoan parasites that infect humans and many other vertebrates worldwide. Currently seven species of Giardia are considered valid.