The
Parasite: Balantidium coli
The
Disease: Balantidiasis
ParaSite created by Ambili Ramachandran
Human Biology 103 – Parasites and Pestilence:
Infectious Public Health Challenges
Dr. D. Scott Smith, MD, MSc., DTM&H
Stanford University
Spring 2003
Introduction
Balantidium
coli is a protozoan parasite responsible for the disease Balantidiasis. Balantidium coli is the largest
protozoan and the only ciliate known to parasitize humans.
Balantidium coli most commonly infects humans, other primates, and
pigs, which are reservoirs of the parasite.
The protozoa are found worldwide, and incidences of infection have been
noted in Bolivia, Papua New Guinea, and the Philippines, yet usually with a
prevalence of less than 1%. Infection
is rare, but is likely to occur in places where humans live closely with swine
and where water sanitation is poor or non-existent.
Balantidium coli cysts are released in the feces of infected
hosts. Consequently, Balantidium
coli is transmitted by a fecal-oral route: humans are infected by ingestion
of water or food contaminated by feces containing the protozoa.
Balantidium coli infection is most often asymptomatic, but the
parasite can invade the large intestine leading to diarrhea, dysentery (bloody
diarrhea), colitis, and abdominal pain.
This collection of symptoms is Balantidiasis, which can be treated
effectively with antibiotics and can be prevented with proper hand washing
practices, water treatment, separation of human and swine habitats, and proper
waste disposal.
This website (or ParaSite) is designed
to provide basic information on Balantidium coli and balantidiasis.
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Last updated May 23, 2003