**8. Impact of climate change on giardiasis epidemiology**

Climatic change is actually being considered as a triggering infection risk factor of zoonotic diseases because certain temperature conditions may increase the pathogens' infective capacity. In the case of *Giardia* cysts, the temperature may be a determining factor in its propagation because an increase in temperature may promote transmission although at low temperatures the cysts viability remains stable [33]; it may be due to increased intake of contaminated water either for drinking or using it for recreational activities [43].

Escobedo et al. [83] in their ecological study verified statistically that giardiasis increases significantly during the climate change that occurs with the "El Niño" phenomenon by using nonlinear Poisson models similar to those in QMRA and proving that *Giardia* infections are sensitive to climate. This knowledge can be helpful to identify sources of infection and support in the prevention and control of these diseases. Besides temperature, other factors that can increase the risk of giardiasis and directly related with climate change are precipitation/humidity and wind/dust [84].
