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Balantidium coli is a species of ciliate protozoan. This parasite is the only member of this family known to be pathogenic to humans. Hosts include pigs, wild boars, rats, primates (including humans), horses, cattle and guinea pigs. Infection is transmitted within or between these species by fecal-oral transmission. Pigs are the most significant reservoir hosts, though they show few if any symptoms. Image File history File links Broom_icon. ... For other uses, see Scientific classification (disambiguation). ... Kingdoms Animalia - Animals Fungi Plantae - Plants Chromalveolata Protista Alternative phylogeny Unikonta Opisthokonta Metazoa Choanozoa Eumycota Amoebozoa Bikonta Apusozoa Cabozoa Rhizaria Excavata Corticata Archaeplastida Chromalveolata Animals, plants, fungi, and protists are eukaryotes (IPA: ), organisms whose cells are organized into complex structures by internal membranes and a cytoskeleton. ... The alveolates are a major line of protists. ... Classes Karyorelictea Heterotrichea Spirotrichea Litostomatea Phyllopharyngea Nassophorea Colpodea Prostomatea Oligohymenophorea Plagiopylea See text for subclasses. ... Typical orders Subclass Haptoria     Haptorida     Pleurostomatida Subclass Trichostomatia     Vestibulifera     Entodiniomorphida The Litostomatea are a class of ciliate protozoa, divided into two groups, ranked as subclasses. ... Balantidium coli is a species of ciliate protozoan, and is the only one that is a pathogen of humans. ... Balantidium coli is a species of ciliate protozoan, and is the only one that is a pathogen of humans. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Classes Karyorelictea Heterotrichea Spirotrichea Litostomatea Phyllopharyngea Nassophorea Colpodea Prostomatea Oligohymenophorea Plagiopylea See text for subclasses. ... Protozoa (in Greek protos = first and zoon = animal) are single-celled creatures with nuclei that show some characteristics usually associated with animals, most notably mobility and heterotrophy. ... A pathogen or infectious agent is a biological agent that causes disease or illness to its host. ... For other uses, see Pig (disambiguation). ... Binomial name Sus scrofa Linnaeus, 1758 The Wild Boar (Sus scrofa) is the wild ancestor of the domesticated pig. ... Species 50 species; see text *Several subfamilies of Muroids include animals called rats. ... For the ecclesiastical use of this term, see primate (religion) Families 13, See classification A primate is any member of the biological order Primates, the group that contains all lemurs, monkeys, and apes, including humans. ... Binomial name Equus caballus Linnaeus, 1758 The horse (Equus caballus, sometimes seen as a subspecies of the Wild Horse, Equus ferus caballus) is a large odd-toed ungulate mammal, one of ten modern species of the genus Equus. ... For general information about the genus, including other species of cattle, see Bos. ... This article is about the species Cavia porcellus. ...

A trophozoite of Balantidium coli

Cysts are the infective stage, responsible for transmission of balantidiasis. The host usually acquires cysts 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. Balantidium Coli trophozoite. ... A cyst (soft c, rhymes with list) is a cloed sac having a distinct membrane and division on the nearby tissue. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ...

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

The trophozoites reside in the lumen of the large intestine, 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 of these return to the lumen. In the lumen Trophozoites may disintegrate or undergo encystation. Encystation is trigerred by dehydration of the intestinal contents and usually occurs in the distal large intestine, but may also occur outside of the host in feces. Symptoms can be local due to involvement of the intestinal mucosa, or systemic in nature and include diarrhea. Balantidiasis can be treated with carbarsone, tetracycline, or diiodohydroxyquin. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (670x658, 304 KB) Balantidium coli in wet mount; photographed, uploaded, and placed in public domain by Ed Uthman, MD Euthman 20:15, 25 November 2006 (UTC) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (670x658, 304 KB) Balantidium coli in wet mount; photographed, uploaded, and placed in public domain by Ed Uthman, MD Euthman 20:15, 25 November 2006 (UTC) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev... cross-section of two cilia, showing 9+2 structure A cilium (plural cilia) is a fine projection from a eukaryotic cell that constantly beats in one direction. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... The large intestine, an organ which is now more commonly referred to by its Greek name, the colon, is the last part of the digestive system: the final stage of the alimentary canal in vertebrate animals. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... The mucous membranes (or mucosa) are linings of ectodermic origin, covered in epithelium, that line various body cavities and internal organs. ... Carbarsone is an arsenic-based antiprotozoal drug which has been used in the treatment of amebiasis and other infections. ... Tetracycline (INN) (IPA: ) is a broad-spectrum antibiotic produced by the streptomyces bacterium, indicated for use against many bacterial infections. ...

Geographic distribution

Worldwide. Pigs are a reservoir. Infection of people occurs more frequently in areas where pigs comingle with people, including the Philippines, Mexico, South America and Papua New Guinea. South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ...

Less than 1% of the human population is infected worldwide.

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References

• CDC’s Division of Parasitic Diseases