Reservoirs of Giardia spp. in southwestern Alberta

A survey of potential hosts of Giardia spp. was carried out during 1982 and 1983 in the Kananaskis Valley and Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada. Diagnosis was based mainly on fecal analysis but a few animals were examined at necropsy and scrapings from the small intestine analyzed. A total of 304 specimens was examined from humans (Homo sapiens L.) and a variety of animal species. Cysts and/or trophozoites of Giardia were found in 10.5% of the specimens examined. Positive samples were found from 20 of 21 red-backed voles (Clethrionomys gapperi Vigors), two of six meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus Ord), one of three long-tailed voles (Microtus longicaudus Allen), five of 50 deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus Mearns), and two of 58 beavers (Castor canadensis Kuhl). Cysts obtained from a beaver were successfully introduced to gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus Milne-Edwards) and the trophozoites obtained were cultured in vitro.