I emailed John May, a leading microbiologist with an interest in breastmilk about our giardia discussion. He has an excellent web page on the anti-bacterial,-viral,-protozoal properties of breastmilk and contaminants in both breastmilk and formula which is worth having a look at. The address is: http://www.latrobe.edu.au/www/microbio/milk.html here is his reply to my question: Denise, I know of no giardia being passed through or in the milk. I would like to see what was said in that publication. (I mentioned Lawrence, Denise) I try to keep my lists as uptodate as possible and chek the medline today, but I would have found it quoted by others if it had. Yes there are antibodies and lipids will kill it as listed on the tables. It may be like the tubercolosisi situation . Although ther is no recent data Tb was said to be passesd through milk and old nurses warned mothers against it but no data is availble. My lsitind is from a statement that TB can be in the milk, and the paediatrics Sosoieties list is as one where the mother should not breast feed. Syphilis is another one and I can only find that lesions may appear on the nipple and that is why and I have never found any direct evidence. Possibly giardia may be onre of these lkind of "hearsay'over the years without any direct evidence (parasites are very rarely found even if the nmilk is suspected of being a source) I hope this is of some help and contact me whenever best wishes john