This article discusses studies conducted to compare the effects of ozone and storage temperature on the survival of Giardia lamblia cysts, the cause of human giardiasis, and Giardia muris, a parasite of mice. The viabilities of the cysts were similar over a period of 25 days of storage in the range of -6 degrees Centigrade to 37 degrees Centigrade. The optimum temperature for long-term survival of the cysts was determined to be about 5 degrees Centigrade. Ozone was effective in inactivating cysts of both Giardia species, with G. muris being consistently more resistant than G. lamblia at pH 7 and 5 degrees and 7 degrees Centigrade. The consistency of disinfection data for ozone and chlorine and the compatibility of viability data suggest that G. muris can be a valid model for G. lamblia in disinfection studies. Further studies are necessary to determine if this would be the case with other common disinfectants and also to identify possible differences in organism strains before confirming G. muris as a substitute for G. lamblia in disinfection studies. Includes 26 references, tables, figures.