Balantidium coli is a protozoan parasite that causes the disease balantidiasis in humans. It has two stages - a trophozoite stage where it reproduces and feeds, and an infective cyst stage. Humans typically become infected through ingesting cysts from fecally contaminated food or water. The cysts excyst in the small intestine and trophozoites take up residence in the large intestine, where they can cause symptoms like diarrhea, abdominal pain, and dysentery. Diagnosis is via stool examination or biopsy. Treatment involves antibiotics like tetracycline, metronidazole, or iodoquinol. Prevention focuses on sanitary disposal of human and pig feces to avoid

2. Balantidium coli is a parasitic
species of ciliate protozoan
responsible for the disease
Balantidiasis.
Balantidium coli is the
largest protozoan and the only
ciliate known to parasitize humans.

3. Balantidiosis is a zoonotic disease.
It is acquired by humans
via the fecal-oral route from
the normal host, the pig,
where it is Asymptomatic.
Water is the vehicle for
most cases of Balantidiosis
ofBalantidiosis.

4. Geographical Distribution
The protozoa are found worldwide
Bolivia
Papua New Guinea
Philippines

5. HOST
Humans are the principle host.
It is also reported in Dogs
It is common in monkeys and
pigs.

6. Site of Infection
Following are the site
of Infection :1 ) Caecum
2 ) Large Intestine

7. Morphology
Balantidium coli has 2 developmental stages .
1) Trophozoite stage
2) Cyst stage

8. Trophozoite
 Oval pointed at anterior end
 50-130um long
 Covered in cilia
 Non-infective
 Reproduce by binary fission and
conjugation
 Micronuclei and macronuclei

9. Cyst
 Spherical
 40-60um across
 Covered with thick, hard
cyst wall with cilia
 Infective
 Non-reproductive
 Macronuclei

10. 2) Cyst stage

11. Trophozoite
Shape
Oval, pointed at anterior end
Size
50-130 m long
Surface
Covered in cilia
Infectious
Not infective
Reproduction
By binary fission or conjugation
Nuclei
Macronucleus and micronucleus

12. Cyst
Shape
Spherical
Size
40-60 m across
Surface
Covered with thick, hard cyst wall
with cilia
Infectious
Infective
Reproduction
Non-reproductive
Nuclei
Only macronucleus

13. Life cycle
 Life Cycle Completed in a single host Natural hosts
 Pigs Accidental host
 Route : Ingestion
 Reproduction: asexual and sexual

14. Life Cycle
Life cycle is as follow :
The cyst is the infective stage of
Balantidium coli life cycle.
Once the cyst is ingested via
feces-contaminated food or
water, it passes through the host
digestive system.
There, excystation takes place in
small intestine.
Excystation produces a
trophozoite from the cyst stage.

15.  The motile trophozoite then resides in the lumen
of the large intestine, feeding on intestinal
nutrients.
 Trophozoites multiply by asexual binary fission or
sexual conjugation
 The trophozoite may become invasive and
penetrate the mucosa of the large intestine.
 Trophozoites are released with the feces, and
encyst to form new cyst
Cysts in the environment are then ready to infect
another host.

16. Sign and Symptoms
Acute ,even hemorrhagic
Diarrhea
Ulceration to gut wall
Dysentery
Colitis
Abdominal pain

17. Diagnosis
 Examination of patient`s stool
 Biopsy
 sigmoid scope is used to visually
inspect the last sections of the
large intestine

18. Treatment
 Three drugs are commonly used and administered
orally
1) Tetracycline
2) Metronidazole
3) Iodoquinol

19. (1) Tetracycline's
500 mg four times
daily for 10 days
(2)
Metronidazole
750 mg three times
daily for 5 days
(3) Iodoquinol
640 mg three times
daily for 20 days

20. Control and Prevention
 Avoid ingestion of material contaminated with
animal feces
 Prevention and control Sanitary disposal of human
and pig feces
 Treatment of infected pigs
 Prevention of fecal contamination of food and water

21. THANK YOU