giardia

noun giar·dia \jē-ˈär-dē-ə, ˈjär-\

Definition of GIARDIA

: any of a genus (Giardia) of flagellate protozoans inhabiting the intestines of various mammals and including one (G. lamblia syn. G. intestinalis) that is associated with diarrhea in humans

Origin of GIARDIA

New Latin, from Alfred M. Giard †1908 French biologist

First Known Use: 1918

Medical Dictionary

giardia

noun giar·dia \jē-ˈär-dē-ə, ˈjär-\

Medical Definition of GIARDIA

capitalized : a genus of flagellate protozoans inhabiting the intestines of various mammals and including one (G. lamblia synonym G. intestinalis) that is associated with diarrhea in humans

: any flagellate of the genus Giardia

Biographical Note for GIARDIA

Giard \zhē-är\ , Alfred Mathieu (1846–1908), French biologist. Giard was an all-around naturalist. He was a student of morphology, phylogeny, and ethology and a supporter of both Darwinism and Lamarckism. He investigated a wide range of topics in biology, including regeneration, sexuality, metamorphosis, experimental parthenogenesis, hybridization, autotomy, and mimicry. The genus Giardia was named in his honor in 1882 by Johann Kunstler.