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Balantidium coli
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{{Taxobox
| color = khaki
| name = ''Balantidium coli''
| regnum =
Protista
| phylum =
Ciliate Ciliophora
| classis =
Litostomatea
| ordo =
Vestibuliferida
| familia =
Balantidium Balantiididae
| genus = ''
Balantidium''
| species = '''''B. coli'''''
| binomial = ''Balantidium coli''
| binomial_authority = (Malmsten, 1857)
}}
'''''Balantidium coli''''' is a species of
ciliate protozoan, and is the only one that is a
pathogen of humans. It is carried by
pigs,
rats,
primates (including humans),
horses,
cattle and
guinea pigs. It is transmitted within or between these species mostly via fecal transmission. Pigs are the most significant reservoir hosts, though they show few if any symptoms.
Image:Balantidium trophB.JPG left|frame|A trophozoite of ''Balantidium coli''Cysts are the parasite stage responsible for transmission of
balantidiasis. The host most often acquires the cyst through ingestion of contaminated food or water. Following ingestion, excystation occurs in the small intestine, and the
trophozoites colonize the large intestine. Both cysts and trophozoites are identifiable by a large, "sausage shaped" macronucleus.
The
trophozoites reside in the lumen of the
large intestine of humans and animals, where they replicate by
transverse binary fission, during which conjugation may occur . Some trophozoites invade the wall of the colon using proteolytic enzymes and multiply. Some return to lumen and disintegrate.
Trophozoites undergo encystation which is triggered by dehydration of the feces as they pass into the rectum. Encystation usually occurs in the large intestine, but may also occur outside of the host. Symptoms can be local due to involvement of the intestinal
mucosa, or systemic in nature and include diarrhea. Balantidiasis can be treated by
carbarsone,
tetracycline, or
diiodohydroxyquin.
Less than 1% of the human population is infected worldwide.
Geographic distribution
Worldwide. Because pigs are an animal reservoir, human infections occur more frequently in areas where pigs are raised, and in the
Philippines,
Mexico,
South America and
Papua New Guinea.
References
-
CDC’s Division of Parasitic Diseases
Category:CiliatesCategory:Infectious diseasescategory:ParasitesCategory:Water-borne diseases
de:Balantidium coli
pt:Balantidium coli
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