Explosive diarrhea? - It's because your cat gave you 'Beaver Fever'

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Cats live in nearly 80 million American households, but a new study suggests nearly one out of fifteen cats are infected with a common parasite, and one out of five infected cats can transmit it to humans.

In the study, published in PLoS One, researchers tested over 150,000 samples from cats in 49 states and five Canadian provinces for Giardia duodenalis, a gastrointestinal parasite found in the United States that can cause frequent diarrhea in both animals and humans.

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Giardia duodenalis, commonly known as "beaver fever," is a parasite that can infect both humans and animals. The nickname became popular in the 1970s after outbreaks were linked to contaminated water in areas where beavers lived.

Giardia can cause diarrhea up to five times daily, along with other symptoms such as upset stomach and bloating, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Infected pets may exhibit similar symptoms, or no symptoms at all.

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