Balantidium coli is the largest protozoan parasite in humans and causes a disease called balantidiasis. Pdf on oct 29, 2018, dalmiro cazorlaperfetti and others published balantidium coli o balantioides coli find, read and cite all the research you need on. The prevalence of balantidium coli in the human population was 5. Once the cyst is in the intestine, trophozoites come out into the lumen and mucosa of cecum and colon.
It belongs to the ciliophora phylum and is the only protozoan ciliate to infect humans. Of course each case of balantidiasis different steps need to be taken. Balantidium coli is a protozoa that is not usually pathogenic in man, although epidemics have been described in tropical areas. Balantidium coli lives in the cecum and colon of humans, pigs, rats, and other mammals. Balantidium coli observed in dysenteric patients was originally described as paramecium coli by malmstein in 1857. Life cycle trophozoite in intestine of man, monkeys, and pigs. Balantidium coli is the largest protozoan and the only ciliate known to parasitize humans. Balantidium coli, though rare in the us, is an intestinal protozoan parasite that can infect humans. Many people clear the infection spontaneously without treatment.
Balantidium coli is passed on through contaminated food and water. Balantidiosis, balantidiasis, disenteria balantidiana. Asymptomatic chimpanzees may recrudesce with diarrhea when stressed by other illnesses e. Stein in 1863 reclassified paramecium coli into the genus balantidium. Balantidiasis dpdx parasites cdc welcome to dpdx, a web site developed and maintained by cdcs division of parasitic diseases and malaria dpdm. Balantidiasis enfermedades parasitarias del tracto. Parasites balantidiasis also known as balantidium coli infection balantidium coli, though rare in the us, is an intestinal protozoan parasite that can infect humans. Balantidium coli definition of balantidium coli by. Balantidium coli is transmitted through a fecaloral route. Pdf balantidium coli o balantioides coli researchgate. Balantidium coli is the largest and the only ciliated protozoan parasite of humans.
Balantidium coli is passed periodically, therefore stool samples should be collected frequently and examined immediately in order to make a definitive diagnosis. Uniformly covered with longitudinal rows of minute, hairlike projections cilia, balantidium exists as a parasite in the intestines of pigs, apes, and other animals. Balantidiasis should be considered if the patient works closely with pigs or other livestock, lives in or has recently traveled to a region with poor water sanitation, or has had contact with infected persons. Balantidiasis disease caused by balantidium coli can be prevented when simple and not so simple environmental changes. During the past decade the balantidium coli has attracting much attention in respect both to its pathogenicity and to its life history. Thus stool specimens should be collected repeatedly, and immediately examined or preserved to enhance detection of the parasite. Balantidium coli infects many animals but pigs and rats are the most important reservoirs. To date, balantidium coli is the only ciliate protozoan reported to infect the gastrointestinal track of humans. During the past decade the balantidium coli has attracting much attention in respect both to its pathogenicity and to its life history in manila the material for study, both clinical and pathologic, has been comparatively abundant. These parasites can be transmitted through the fecaloral route by contaminated food and water. It has also been proposed that is a junior synonom of genus balantioides which has b. Morphology it is the largest protozoan parasitizing humans it is ciliated and has both a trophozoite and cyst stage trophozoite is 50 200 microns long and 4070 microns wide.
It mainly affects the colon and clinical presentation varies from asymptomatic forms to severe dysenteric syndromes. Balantidium coli is passed intermittently and once outside the colon is rapidly destroyed. Balantidium coli is one of the species that has been reclassified. Balantidiasis, infection by the protozoan balantidium coli, is encountered worldwide, but infections are more common in tropical and subtropical regions. Vyvinovy cyklus balantidium coli upravene podla urse1. Apos seu obito, foi realizada uma investigacao epidemiologica. Balantidium coli balantidiasis balantidium coli is a large pathogenic ciliated protozoan that in rare instances infects humans and produces intestinal symptoms. In 1858 edouard claparede and johannes lachmann created the genus balantidium and reclassified b. Since the symptoms of balantidiasis are similar to those of amebiasis, it is important to identify the correct protozoan responsible for the disease. If possible, asymptomatic individuals should still be treated in order to halt further transmission of the disease. Balantidiasis colica gastroenterologia y hepatologia. A stool sample is collected and a wet mount is prepared. Symptoms, if present, include diarrhea, dysentery, and abdominal pain see clinical presentation. Dpdx uses the internet to strengthen diagnosis of parasitic diseases, both in the united states and abroad.
Balantidium coli is a parasitic species of ciliate protozoan responsible for the disease balantidiasis. The closest known relative of this genus is buxtonella sulcata a parasite of cattle. Most cases of balantidium coli infection are asymptomatic. The pathogenesis of the balantidium coli jama jama network. Balantidium coli ciliado causador da balantidiose, uma infeccao do intestino grosso do homem 4. Pathology of balantidiasis balantidium coli dr sampurna. B coli is known to parasitize the colon, and pigs may be its primary reservoir. A very large parasitic ciliate species, usually 50 to 80 um in length, reaching up to 200 um in pigs, found in the caecum or large intestine, swimming actively in the lumen. It is not readily transmissible from one species of host to another because it requires a period of time to adjust to the symbiotic flora of the new host. Balantidium, genus of ovoid protozoans of the holotrichous order trichostomatida. Balantidiasis also known as balantidiosis is defined as largeintestinal infection with balantidium coli, which is a ciliated protozoan and the largest protozoan that infects humans. Microscopic examination of the stool or tissue sample and characterization of the organism according to morphology are needed to make the correct diagnosis.
Cysts or trophozoites can be detected in the feces. Balantidiasis is a parasitic zoonosis caused by balantidium coli. Balantidium coli definition of balantidium coli by medical. In manila the material for study, both clinical and pathologic, has been comparatively abundant. In this article we will discuss about balantidium coli. Balantidium coli e um protista ciliado causador da balantidiose ou balantidiase, uma infeccao do intestino grosso do ser humano. Infection in and transmission to humans from pigs is the most usual mode of infection. Balantidium coli infection is mostly asymptomatic, but people with other serious illnesses can experience persistent diarrhea, abdominal pain, and sometimes a perforated colon. Barbara soares classificacao balantidium coli filo. Oct 18, 2019 balantidiasis also known as balantidiosis is defined as largeintestinal infection with balantidium coli, which is a ciliated protozoan and the largest protozoan that infects humans. Balantidium coli repositorio utmachala universidad tecnica. Balantidiasis parasitologia medica, 4e accessmedicina. The trophozoite is oval and large, sometimes large enough to be seen without magnification generally 30150.