UNIT 6. CILIOPHORA: CILIATES

Balantidium coli

• Largest protozoan that infects humans & non-human primates & pigs

• Only ciliate (protozoan processing cilia)

Balantidium sulcata

Found only in the colon of bovines

ingestion of the infective cyst from food & water contaminated by feces

Balantidium coli MOT

Balantidiasis/Balantidiosis/Ciliary Dysentery;

• blood stool with mucous

Balantidium coli pathology

• Similar with Amoebic dysentery

• Characteristic of the diarrhea is ________________

Paramecium coli

Balantidium coli first (old) name

cyst

Balantidium coli infective stage

Pigs

Also in cows, dogs, horses, rodents, and nonhuman primates

Balantidium coli Reservoir host

Balantidium coli cystBalantidium coli

• Infective

• Non-motile, dominant

• Non-reproductive

• Size: 50-70 µm (diameter)

• Ovoid, rounded with well- defined cystic wall (cilia enclosed in cystic wall)

• Binucleated (1 macronucleus, 1 micronucleus)

• Surrounded by a thick transparent cyst wall → to resist degradation in the acidic environment of the stomach & the basic environment of the small intestine

• Contractile vacuoles are prominent

Balantidium coli trophozoite

• Non-infective, invasive

• Motile (rotatory movements) - “Thrown ball/Rolling” motility

• Shape: Large, ovoid, ciliated

• Size: 30-150 µm length x 25-120 µm width

• Ovoidal, bean-shaped

• Prominent cytostome (for food entry)

• Indented cytopyge (for waste exit)

• Has 2 nuclei (macro & micronucleus)

• Contractile vacuoles: 1-2, lying side-byside or one above the other; maintain proper osmotic pressure inside the cell

• Food vacuoles: contain food particles (e.g., bacteria, debris, fat droplets, occasional RBCs, starch grains)

Macronucleus (vegetative)

Balantidium coli structures:

• Kidney bean-shaped; responsible for cytoplasmic activities; vegetative

Micronucleus (reproductive)

Balantidium coli structures:

• Less prominent, lying in the notch of the macronucleus; responsible for reproductive process

adoral cilia

Balantidium coli structures:

• Cilia present near the mouth (cytostome) are longer, called __________

peristome;

cytostome;

cytopharynx;

1/3

Balantidium coli structures:

• Anterior end is narrow & bears a groove (_______) that leads to the mouth (________), followed by a short funnel-shaped gullet (_________) extending up to ____ of the body

Binary fission (Asexual)

• Trophozoite → Trophozoite

Syngamy (Sexual)

• Conjugation of trophozoite to another trophozoite

• 2 Trophozoites come in contact with each other at their anterior ends —→ Trophozoites exchange nuclear materials for a few moments, then they detach —-→ No increase in the number of trophozoites

Balantidium coli reproduction:

Hyaluronidase

• lytic enzyme that causes ulceration

• Lytic enzymes cause cell destruction

Ulceration

• rounded base and wide neck

Balantidium coli virulent factors:

Specimen used is stool

Direct Fecal Smear

Concentration techniques

Balantidium coli diagnosis

Tetracycline or Metronidazole

Balantidium coli treatment