Balantidium coli

Discovery

Malmsten in 1857 from a patient who was suffered from dysentery stools

Geographical distribution

Worldwide

Natural host-Pigs- reared
Human accidently host

Habitat

Intestinal region

Morphology

Trophozoite images (12)

Anterior- sharp pointed

Posterior- broader

Size- 60um in length ; 45um in breadth

Anterior region have cytosome- parasite mouth

Bottom region called cytopharynx, it extend as sac like cavity

Posterior have small opening called cytopyge- anal opening

Cilia from mouth Region called Adoral cilia ( extend to cytopharynx)

2 nucleus

Macronucleus - Bigger it resemble kidney bean shape

Micronucleus - small round shape , close by macronucleus

Contractile vacuous

Present Side by side or sometime one above the other

Food vacuole

Maintain the osmotic pressure inside body

Present in cytoplasm

Parasite take Bacteria, cell debris, fat, RBC cells, these are digest by food vacuole. Excrete through Anal opening (cytopage).

Propelling motility

Oval shape

Cyst images (3)

It have double layered cyst wall covering which is transparent.

Shrink the cilia , both nucleus and contractile vacuole

No food vacuoles

Infective forms

Size: 40-60 um in diameter

Transmission

Pig to pig
Pig to Man
Man to Man
Man to pig

Life cycle images (4)

1.Cyst enter

Transmit by fecal & oral root

  1. Excystation - single cyst gives rise to single tropozoite
  1. Transverse Binary fission

First divide macronucleus then macronucleus, food vacuoles and contractile vacuole and form parasite mouth

  1. Conjugation - parasite mouth joined together and transfer genetic material then separate

5.Enter to LI , SI

  1. Encystation and excrete through feces

Pathogenesis

Harmless

Affect human, recover within 3-4 days even without any treatment

Some cases, intestinal ulcers- it either specific round or irregular shape or pus filled structure

1% affect by lymph nodes called lymph adenopathy

Maximum have Nausea,
Vomiting,
Diarrhea or dysentery stools

Lab diagnosis

Collect Stool sample

Wet mount to check motility

Iodine mount (characterize brown color)

Eosin or haematoxylin staining

Culture

Dyphasic medium

Polymeric media

Molecular methods

Biopsy- pus & ulcer sample for analyze tropozoite form

PCR

ELISA

Ab testing

Treatment

Tetracycline

500mg for 4times a day for 10 days

Metronidazole

750mg for thrice a day for 7 days

Oval or round shape