What is the life cycle of Balantidium coli?
Life Cycle of Balantidium coli. Balantidium coli has 2 developmental stages: a trophozoite stage and a cyst stage. (See Morphology and Transmission for further descriptions of the stages.) The cyst is the infective stage of Balantium coli life cycle.
What is the infective stage of Balantidium coli?
The cyst is the infective stage of the Balantidium coli life cycle. Encystation is the process of forming the cyst; this event takes place in the rectum of the host as feces are dehydrated or soon after the feces have been excreted.
How is Balantidium coli transmitted?
Balantidium coli is transmitted through the fecal-oral route. Humans can become infected by eating and drinking contaminated food and water that has come into contact with infective animal or human fecal matter.
What is the definitive host of Balantidium coli?
Balantidium (=Neobalantidium) (=Balantioides) coli, a large ciliated protozoan, is the only ciliate known to be capable of infecting humans. It is often associated with swine, the primary reservoir host.
What is the pathogenicity of Balantidium coli?
Balantidium coli is a large pathogenic ciliated protozoan that in rare instances infects humans and produces intestinal symptoms. B. coli has a worldwide distribution, and prevalence is highest in areas of poor hygiene and nutrition and where pigs and humans have close contact.
What is the classification of Balantidium coli?
| Balantidium coli | |
|---|---|
| Phylum: | Ciliophora |
| Class: | Litostomatea |
| Order: | Vestibuliferida |
| Family: | Balantiididae |
What is the epidemiology of Balantidium coli?
Balantidiasis is found worldwide and has an overall estimated prevalence of 1%. Balantidiasis epidemics have occurred in psychiatric hospitals in the United States. Cases of B coli infection from cattle, pigs, and rats, among others, have also been previously reported from India.
What is the importance of pigs in the life cycle of Balantidium coli?
Balantidium coli occurs worldwide. Because pigs are the primary reservoir, human infections occur more frequently in areas where pigs are raised and sanitation is inadequate.
What are the characteristics of Balantidium coli?
Balantidium coli cysts in wet mounts. Trophozoites are characterized by: their large size (40 µm to 200 µm), the presence of cilia on the cell surface, a cytostome, and a bean shaped macronucleus which is often visible and a smaller, less conspicuous micronucleus.
What is the shape of Balantidium coli?
Balantidium coli is a large ciliate in the phylum Ciliophora. Trophozoites are ovoid, 30 to 150 by 150 by 25 pm, and with a subterminal tubular mouth. They are covered with cilia and with these they move rapidly. Cysts are spherical to ovoid, 40 to 50 μm in diameter, with many starch-containing food vacuoles.
What are the features of Balantidium coli?
What kingdom is Balantidium coli?
Balantidium coli is a parasitic species of ciliate alveolates that causes the disease balantidiasis….
| Balantidium coli | |
|---|---|
| (unranked): | Alveolata |
| Phylum: | Ciliophora |
| Class: | Litostomatea |
| Order: | Vestibuliferida |