Health · Public Health & Disease · 1 day ago
Study finds Giardia in more than 6% of tested cats
Researchers tested 157,616 cat stool samples from the United States and Canada and found Giardia in more than 6% of them.
The parasite can cause giardiasis, often called beaver fever, which can bring diarrhea, stomach cramps and nausea.
Nearly one in five cats that tested positive carried strains that can infect people.
The study suggests about five million cats in the United States may carry some form of Giardia.
People can be exposed by swallowing tiny parasite cysts from contaminated hands, surfaces, food or water.
A veterinarian quoted in the story advises thoroughly cleaning litter boxes and food and water bowls if a cat is diagnosed with Giardia.
The study does not say what steps authorities or researchers will take next.
A study found Giardia in more than 6 percent of 157,616 cat stool samples tested in the US and Canada.
The samples came from cats in 49 US states, Washington, DC, and five Canadian provinces.
Of the cats that tested positive, 18.5 percent carried Giardia strains that can infect people.
Giardia can spread to people through contact with contaminated feces, water, food, hands, or surfaces.
- Who
- Researchers from Antech Diagnostics and other pet care facilities studied cat stool samples.
- What
- More than 6 percent of the samples tested positive for Giardia.
- When
- The study’s publication date is not stated. The article was published on October 10, 2026.
- Where
- The samples came from the US and Canada.
- Why
- Not stated
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
If your cat is diagnosed with Giardia, thoroughly cleaning all litter boxes, water and food bowls is imperative.
This story does not have a timeline yet.
- Samples tested
- 157,616 cat stool samples
- Positive samples
- 9,962
- Study locations
- 49 US states, Washington, DC, and five Canadian provinces
- Human-infective strains
- 18.5 percent of Giardia-positive cats carried assemblages A and B
Sources
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