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Since 2005,black:tailed prairie dogs (Cynomysludovicianus) have been collected for use as research animals from field sites in Kansas,Colorado,and Texas,with the most recent collection from Texas (2011) coming from a city farm that was irrigated with treated waste water.In January of 2012,Giardia trophozoites were identified by histology in the lumen of the small intestine and colon of an animal euthanized because of extreme weight loss.With giardiasis suspected as the cause of weight loss,a survey of Giardia duodenalis in the laboratory colony of prairie dogs was initiated.Direct immunofluorescence testing of feces revealed active shedding of Giardia cysts in 40% (n=60) of animals held in the vivarium.All tested fecal samples (n=29) from animals in another holding facility where the first mortality originated were PCR positive for G.duodenalis with assemblages A and B identified from sequencing tpi,gdh,and β3:giardin genes.Both assemblages are considered zoonotic,thus the parasites in prairie dogs are potential human pathogena During the investigation,four more animals died during or after treatment with fenbendazole; however,no pathologic evidence oftrophozoites was seen.Molecular testing for other protozoan gastrointestinal parasites revealed no Cryptosporidium infections but identified a novel Enterocytozoon bieneusi genotype in the 201 1:collected group of prairie dogs but not the 2009 animals.These cases ofG.duodenalis in prairie dogs highlight the occurrence ofzoonotic subtypes and the potential for morbidity and mortality associated with such infections.