protozoa - ciliates

Question 1

Balantidium coli hosts

Answer 1

swine, humans

Question 2

Balantidium coli morphology

Answer 2

two forms: both have 2 nuclei - macro and micronucleus

1. trophozoite - rows of cilia; motile
2. cyst - smaller than trophozoite

Question 3

Balantidium coli life cycle

Answer 3

-cysts and tropes shed in feces of infected pig or infected person
-infective stage = CYST
-ingestion of fecal-contaminated food/water
-trophs excyst in intestines and multiply
-trophs encyst
-cysts (and trophs) shed in feces

Question 4

Balantidium coli source

Answer 4

feces of infected swine
fecal-contaminated food/water

Question 5

Balantidium coli transmission

Answer 5

direct: fecal-oral

Question 6

Balantidium coli clinical signs

Answer 6

-usually asymptomatic
-if signs are seen: diarrhea, can be persistent, can be severe or fatal

Question 7

Balantidium coli patho

Answer 7

-usually nonpathogenic
-rarely, invades enterocytes in colon (diarrhea, ulcers in colon)
-pathogenicity may be strain-specific

Question 8

Balantidium coli diagnosis

Answer 8

-fecal float: ids cysts
-fecal direct smear: ids trophozoites
fecal tests are not very sensitive

Question 9

Balantidium coli treatment and prevention

Answer 9

-antimicrobial drugs
-good sanitation
-prevent fecal contamination of food and water