The Most Adorable Parasite

So, yesterday, we featured the most romantic parasite, even though not all of you agreed on that assessment.  Today for The Finals Week Parasite Special, we bring you the Most Adorable Parasite.

Giardia intestinalis (or Giardia lamblia, they're exactly the same thing)



This guy, even though he causes massive diarrhea, is adorable.  If he gets out of the intestines, he can also cause severe liver failure and other extraintestinal manifestations.  He usually doesn't kill you, though.  Just gives you about 2 1/2 weeks of pure bathroom misery.   But look at the guy!  He looks like a heart-shaped balloon that can't help but smile at you all day long.

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