Giardia - Systematics

Systematics

About 40 species have been described from different animals, but many of them are probably synonyms. Currently, five to six morphologically distinct species are recognised. Giardia lamblia (=G. intestinalis, =G. duodenalis) infect humans and other mammals, G. muris is found from other mammals, G. ardeae and G. psittaci from birds, G. agilis from amphibians and G. microti from voles. Other described, (but not certainly valid) species include:

Giardia beckeri
Giardia beltrani
Giardia botauri
Giardia bovis
Giardia bradypi
Giardia canis
Giardia caprae
Giardia cati
Giardia caviae
Giardia chinchillae
Giardia dasi
Giardia equii

Giardia floridae
Giardia hegneri
Giardia herodiadis
Giardia hyderabadensis
Giardia irarae
Giardia marginalis
Giardia melospizae
Giardia nycticori
Giardia ondatrae
Giardia otomyis
Giardia pitymysi

Giardia pseudoardeae
Giardia recurvirostrae
Giardia sanguinis
Giardia serpentis
Giardia simoni
Giardia sturnellae
Giardia suricatae
Giardia tucani
Giardia varani
Giardia viscaciae
Giardia wenyoni

Genetic and biochemical studies have revealed the heterogeneity of Giardia lamblia, which contains probably at least eight lineages or cryptic species.