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
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
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
1.Cyst enter
Transmit by fecal & oral root
- Excystation - single cyst gives rise to single tropozoite
- Transverse Binary fission
First divide macronucleus then macronucleus, food vacuoles and contractile vacuole and form parasite mouth
- Conjugation - parasite mouth joined together and transfer genetic material then separate
5.Enter to LI , SI
- 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