Hi, I'm new here, so please excuse me for jumping right in. I'm a microbiologist by training (but a stay at home suggy-mommy) and I'll try to add a little bit of information about disinfecting items contaminated with Giardia lamblia.
First, let me say that I know you are working really hard and are doing everything right for your babies, SuggieMomma. The following is for general information, and perhaps to give you some options to make things a little easier.
The reason this is such a pest is because it is not a simple bacteria. It is a complex parasite that has the ability to encyst in the environment and persist in its ability to cause infection. It is the cysts that are so hard to kill.
Normal chemical treatments don't always work to kill this parasite, and even water treatment plants don't rely only on that. But the chemicals can be a part of an overall strategy for decontaminating/disinfecting with this organism. The organisms in a non-encysted state are killed by the disinfecting agents. Only the cysts are resistant.
A combination of bleach solution with iodine can be sprayed on all cage surfaces after the cages are thoroughly scrubbed down with detergent and rinsed. (Your
vet can tell you the amount of bleach and iodine to add to the solution. Or just get a
vet recommended commercial disinfection solution.) Don't just spray this on a dirty cage! Manual cleaning with a detergent is always necessary before disinfecting!
If you have long sunny days, UV rays are particularly damaging to Giardia cysts. I would thoroughly clean, then spray on the bleach/iodine (or
vet) solution and then allow to sit in direct sunlight for at least one full day. Following this routine for a second day would be even better. This should be sufficient to kill any remaining cysts on the cage surfaces -- if there is enough direct sunlight.
I would not reintroduce the glider/s back into their cage/s until their medical treatment is complete, instead using a hospital cage (something easier to clean) for their housing.
Washing their bedding in hot water with detergent should sufficient to wash away the cysts. You can hang them to dry in the sun inside out and is perfectly fine for added security. You can clean the
toys with detergent and hot water, or put them in a sock bag and run them through the dishwasher or clothes washer to wash away most of the cysts. Then spray them down with the disinfection solution and allow them to dry in the sun. Leave the
toys in the sun, turning them several times to ensure all sides get UV exposure. You may need to leave them in the sun for multiple days to ensure all sides get enough exposure. Be aware that the UV may fade some plastics and fabrics, but it will also kill the cysts.
You can also construct a UV box with commercial UV bulbs, similar to those used to kill algae in Koi ponds. You will need to construct the UV light box so that none of the light can escape while it is on because looking at UV light can blind you and exposure to the UV can give you burns. These are the bulbs you will need, and you can contact them regarding constructing a light box:
http://www.ultraviolet.com/lamp/sterlray.htm. Even 10 minutes of exposure is enough to kill 99.7% of any cysts exposed to this kind of UV. Just be sure to turn the items over and re-expose so that all sides are irradiated with the UV. And make sure you turn the light OFF before you open the box. If I were to construct one of these I'd put a window in the lid with some clear material that blocks UV rays so that I would always know when it was on. I'd also add a lock to the lid because I have two children still at home.
Steam cleaning the area around the cage is an appropriate step to take, as is prevention of recontamination during the treatment period.
Be sure to wear gloves and thoroughly wash your hands after handling the animals and their infected sleeping
pouches, cages, etc., and don't forget to wash your own clothes in hot water with detergent.
Sorry this was so long! I hope it was helpful.
I think you are doing really good work with your babies and I just want to say hang in there. Your effort will pay off.
Diane
Edit: I just want to add this: Giardia is not part of a Glider's normal gut flora. It is a parasite! And though it can be there for a time without causing symptoms, it is never healthy and never normal for any creature to be hosting it. It is found in a small portion of wild sugar gliders, somewhere around 10%. But remember that Sugar Gliders in the wild do not have the extended life spans they have in well managed domestic settings. Giardia infection is always a disease, even when its course is mild.
And here is the unsettling thought of the day: Parasites are at the top of the food chain!