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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Dysentery caused by Balantidium coli in a patient with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma from Turkey.

Balantidium coli is the only parasitic ciliate of man. It is a flattened oval organism covered with cilia, and a gullet at the anterior end. It is infrequently pathogenic for man, although epidemic buds in tropical zones have been described. The infection fundamentally affects the colon and causes variable clinic pictures, from asymptomatic to serious dysenteric forms. We present a case of parasitologically diagnosed as causes of diarrhea in a patient with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma from Turkey. In order to find out the causative etiologic agent of diarrhea, stool samples were examined by native, lugol and flotation methods and we detected moving trophozoites, which were approximately 60 microm long and 35 microm wide. These bodies were diagnosed as Balantidium coli. This case underlines that Balantidium coli should also be considered as a possible pathogen in immunocompromised patients with diarrhea.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Pulmonary Balantidium coli infection in a leukemic patient.

A 59-year-old woman suffering from chronic lymphocytic leukemia developed pulmonary lesions; bronchoalveolar lavage was performed for possible systemic fungal infection. However, direct microscopic analysis revealed ciliated protozoa identified as Balantidium coli. B. coli is the only known pathogenic ciliate, and is usually associated with intestinal infection in areas associated with pig rearing. On very rare occasions the organisms may invade extra-intestinal organs, in this case the lungs of an immunocompromised patient. This case is unusual as balantidiasis is rare in Europe, the patient had no obvious contact with pigs, and there was no history of diarrhea prior to pulmonary colonization. Metronidazole was rapidly administered, and the condition improved after 24-48 hr.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Severe peritonitis due to Balantidium coli acquired in France.

The case reported here concerns an alcoholic pork-butcher who presented with severe colitis with peritonitis, caused by the only ciliate protozoan capable of infecting humans, Balantidium coli. This parasite is common in a variety of domestic and wild mammals, mainly pigs; however, its prevalence rate in humans is very low--particularly in industrialised, northern countries, including France. The infection is most frequently acquired by ingesting food or water contaminated by pig faeces, and it may be asymptomatic or may cause acute diarrhoea. Specific antibiotic treatment is efficacious, and it is important to consider the risk of this parasitic disease in susceptible patients presenting with bloody diarrhoea.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Balantidium coli pneumonia in an immunocompromised patient.

A fatal case is reported of Balantidium coli pneumonia in a 71-y-old woman suffering from anal cancer. The diagnosis was made by the discovery of motile trophozoites in a wet mount from bronchial secretions. The usual habitat of the parasite is the colon; lung balantidiasis is very rare.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

New species of Balantidium and Paracichlidotherus (Ciliophora) inhabiting the intestines of four surgeonfish species from the Tuvalu Islands, Pacific Ocean.

Four species of adult herbivorous surgeonfishes (Family Acanthuridae) were collected from the remote South-Pacific island system of Tuvalu. Their intestinal contents were examined, and of four populations of ciliated protists, two new species were discovered and are described. Ciliates were examined after protargol staining and, in some cases, scanning electron microscopy. Members of each population were examined and 10 characters measured for the balantidia, and 13 for the paracichlidotherids. A new Balantidium is described which has an unusually large dextr-oral field of cilia. A new species of Paracichlidotherus was discovered which has a macronucleus significantly smaller and well anteriad the cytoplasmic portion of the oral polykinetids relative to the type species.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Food vacuole contents in the ciliate, Balantidium jocularum (Balantididae), a symbiont in the intestine of the surgeonfish, Naso tonganus (Acanthuridae).

During the past 16 years, the ciliate Balantidium jocularum has been collected from the intestines of many specimens of its fish host, Naso tonganus, all collected from the Great Barrier Reef near Lizard Island, Australia. Ciliates for this study of food consumption were isolated in 1988, 1989, 2003, and 2005. Nineteen specimens of B. jocularum were examined in the transmission electron microscope to determine the contents of both food vacuoles and a putative discharging cytoproct vacuole. Food vacuoles contained rod-shaped bacteria, tightly coiled spirilliform bacteria, and one or more euglenid flagellates. In several balantidia of somewhat different form than the type species of B. jocularum, the large bacterium, Epulopiscium fishelsoni, was observed in light microscope protargol preparations. Some putative phagolysosomes retained spirilliform bacteria that were apparently intact, and others contained partially digested flagellates. Food in a single discharging cytoproct vacuole consisted of normal appearing spirilliform bacteria, some other bacteria, and no flagellates. The results argue for non-selective ingestion of food and selective digestion; hence, somewhat inefficient food processing.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

The prevalence of Balantidium coli infection in fifty-six mammalian species.

A total of 375 fecal samples of 56 mammalian species belonging to 17 families of 4 orders were examined for the detection of Balantidium coli from December 1994 to August 1995. As a result, B. coli was found from 6 species belonging to 4 families of 2 orders (Primates and Artiodactyla) of host animals examined. White-handed gibbon (Hylobates lar), squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciurea) and Japanese macaque (Macaca fuscata) were new hosts for B. coli. All the wild boar (Sus scrofa) and chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) examined were positive. The highest number of B. coli was obtained from a chimpanzee (1,230/g feces). No B. coli was detected from the animals of orders Rodentia and Carnivora including dogs and cats. The rarity of B. coli infection in breeding animals in Japan. suggests that there is no serious problem in controlling infections.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Age-dependent occurrence of the intestinal ciliate Balantidium coli in pigs at a Danish research farm.

A cross sectional study of the prevalence and intensity of Balantidium coli in pigs was carried out on a Danish research farm. The prevalence of B. coli infection increased from 57% in suckling piglets to 100% in most pig groups > or = 4 weeks old. The mean number of cysts per gram faeces (CPG) of pigs aged 12 weeks and younger were < or = 206, whereas pigs aged 28 weeks and > 52 weeks had significantly higher counts of > or = 865 CPG. Although some lactating sows had very high CPG's, no significant differences in CPG could be detected between the intensities of pregnant sows, lactating sows and empty and dry sows. No human cases of B. coli infection have been published in Denmark though it is zoonotic.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2005

An electron microscopic study of the phosphatases in the ciliate Balantidium coli.

The localisation and activity of D glucose-6-phosphatase (G-6-Pase) and alkaline phosphatase (AlP) in the trophozoites of Balantidium coli isolated from pig intestine content were investigated using ultrastructural and cytochemical methods. The activity of G-6-Pase was demonstrated on the membranes of the endoplasmic reticulum, particularly in the cortical part of the trophozoites. In addition, the product of the reaction to G-6-Pase was concentrated in the vesicular structures, which were distributed along the reticular membranes. These structures were described as vesicles similar to glycosomes, containing enzymes of glycogenolysis. It is very likely that hydrolases in B. coli are formed on the rough reticular membranes without the involvement of cisterns of the Golgi complex. The ultrastructural deposits of the reaction to G-6-Pase and AlP in the trophozoites of B. coli described here indicate that some membranes of the rough endoplasmic reticulum and small vacuoles with a strong reaction to these enzymes can play a similar role to the Golgi complex.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Acute appendicitis caused by Balantidium coli].

A patient who was surgically treated for acute appendicitis is presented. In the sections of cecal appendix many Balantidium coli trophozoites were found. The history, characteristics, habitat, location, biological aspects and reproduction of this parasite are commented.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1976

[Balantidium coli infection of the female genitals (author's transl)].

Two cases of therapy-resistant fluorine are reported in which Balantidium coli from the class of the cilia (Ciliophora, Ciliata, Infusoria) was identified. After a personal experiment, the Balantidia must be considered extremely pathogenic. In international literature, no further indication of a ciliata infection of the female genitals was found.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

[Cytophotometric analysis of trophozoites and cysts of Balantidium coli].

In trophozoites and cysts of Balantidium coli the contents of nucleic acids were compared, with the use of cytochemical methods. There is more RNA (nuclear and cytoplasmatic) in trophozoites, but the content of DNA is the same in both trophozoites and cysts. Some morphometric parameters, allowing to compare trophozoites and cysts of B. coli, were obtained on the basis of cytophotometric determination of the cytochemical reactions' intensity and its computer analysis. These studies showed greater compactness of nuclear chromatin, higher homogeneity of chromatin's structures in cysts in comparison with trophozoites, and finally, decrease in the circumference and area of cysts of B. coli.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

[Growth of Balantidium coli populations under in vivo and in vitro conditions].

Trophozoites of Balantidium coli were isolated from the pig's caecum and cultivated in vitro. Pigs were divided into two groups: one with the acute balantidiosis and the second--with the asymptomatic balantidiosis. In the first case the biotic potential of protozoans turned out to be higher (the most intensive divisions occurred 24 hours after the second passage). Protozoans isolated from pigs with the asymptomatic balantidiosis had lower biotic potential (the most intensive divisions occurred 24 hours after the third passage). This fact indicates the differentiation of the investigated populations of B. coli.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Ultrastructural and cytochemical identification of peroxisomes in Balantidium coli, Ciliophora.

Peroxisomes of the trophozoites of Balantidium coli isolated from pig intestine content were investigated, using ultrastructural and cytochemical techniques. The peroxisomes of B. coli trophozoites from pigs with subclinical balantidiasis are less then 0.8 mm in diameter whereas those from pigs with acute balantidiasis are greater than 0.8 micron in diameter. In all the trophozoites peroxisomes are round, oval or dumb-bell shaped. Catalase as an indicative enzyme was detected by cytochemical techniques in B. coli peroxisomes.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

A comparison of nucleic acid content in Balantidium coli trophozoites from different isolates.

Cytophotometric assays were performed on Balantidium coli trophozoites isolated from 30 pigs affected by acute balantidiasis (Group I) and from 30 pigs with symptom-free balantidiasis (Group II). Trophozoites from cultures obtained from Group I and II pig isolates were assayed for comparison. Comparative cytophotometric studies on nucleic acids of B. coli trophozoites isolated from acute and symptomless balantidiasis-affected pigs as well as from in vitro cultured trophozoites showed differences which could have resulted from differences between populations in the trophozoans under investigation.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Dysentery caused by Balantidium coli--report of two cases.

The authors present two cases of dysentery caused by Balantidium coli with numerous colonic ulcers, documented by colonoscopy and diagnosed by endoscopic biopsies. The positive rectal exudate in one case permitted the isolation and ultrastructural study of the trophozoites. The good response to tetracyclines in the younger patient was not repeated in the older patient, who died in septic shock despite antibiotic therapy. The authors report the endoscopic findings and comment on the differential endoscopic diagnosis between parasitic and other organic colitis in view of the rarity of these examples as isolated cases in Western countries.

Aged↗