Balantidium coli

Balantidium coliMicroPara

Arahmae Agustin Z. BSN-ll WatsonA parasitic species of ciliate protozoan that causes the disease Balantidiasis. It is the only member of the ciliate phylum known to be pathogenic to humans.

Morphology

Balantidium coli as seen in a wet mount of a stool specimen. The organism is surrounded by cilia.

TransmissionBalantidium is the only ciliated protozoan known to infect humans. Balantidiasis is a zoonotic disease and is acquired by humans via the feco-oral route from the normal host, yhe pig, where it is asymptomatic. Contaminated water is the most common mechanism of transmission.Role in diseaseBalantidium coli lives in the cecum and colon of humans, pigs, rats and other mammals. 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. Once it has adapted to a host species, the protozoan can become a serious pathogen, especially in humans. Trophozoites multiply and encyst due to the dehydration of feces.Infection occurs when the cysts are ingested, usually through contaminated food or water. Balantidium infection in immunocompetent individuals is not unheard of, but it rarely causes a serious disease of the gastrointestinal tract. It can thrive in the gastroinatestinal tract as long as there is a balance between the protozoan and the host without causing dysenteric symptoms. Infection most likely occurs in people with malnutrition due to the low stomach acidity or people with immune compromised systems.

LIFE CYCLEPhylogeny:Phylum Ciliophora

Preferred definitive host:Humans

Reservoir hosts:Pigs, guinea pigs, rats, other mammals.

Intermediate or vector hosts:None

Geographical location:Most common in Philippines, but is cosmopolitan

Organs affected:Cecum and colon

Symptoms:Proteolytic enzymes digest the intestinal epithelium of the host. Ulcer is flask-shaped, and causes lymphocytic infiltration, hemorrhage, secondary bacterial infection. Large intestine and appendix may be perforated.

Treatment:Carbarsone, diiodohydroxyquin, tetracycline. Epidemiological control and treatment are similar to those of E. histolytica.