<prompt> Which parasite causes severe malabsorption syndromeGiardiasisHookwormAscariasisAmoebiasis  <response>: Ref: Harrisons, 19th ed. pg. 1946Giardiasis Mode of transmission: Fecal-oral Incubation period: 7-10 days Signssymptom: Chronic diarrhea, abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, flatus due to postinfectious irritable bowel syndrome or protein losing enteropathy; postinfection fatigue Diagnosis: Fecal, string test, or duodenal aspirate microscopy; stool antigen assay Treatment: Metronidazole for ongoing infection; no specific antiparasitic therapy for postinfectious syndromes. NOTE: Hookworm infection can cause iron deficiency anemiaImportant causes of Malabsorption Syndrome Table from Harrisons 19th edImpaired mucosal absorptionmucosal loss or defect Crohns disease Celiac disease Amyloidosis Collagenous sprue Scleroderma Whipples disease Lymphoma Folate and vitamin B12 deficiency Eosinophilic enteritis Mastocytosis Infections--giardiasis Tropical sprue 