Difference between revisions of "Balantidium"

Revision as of 18:48, 18 May 2010

Balantidium from a pig - Joaquim Castellà Veterinary Parasitology Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

Balantidium trophozoite from a pig - Joaquim Castellà Veterinary Parasitology Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

Ciliate protozoan found as a commensal in the lumen of the large intestine

Infects pigs and other animals
- Including humans

Recognition

Ciliate

80μm long

Funnel-shaped depressions leading to the cytostome (mouth)

Kidney shaped macronucleus

Small micronucleus

Contractile and food vacuoles

Life Cycle

Reproduce by binary fission

Thick-walled cysts pass out with faeces
- Ensure infection of a new host

Pathogenesis

Pigs
- Usually commensal
- May cause ulceration and dysentery if the intestinal mucosa is damaged already as parasite will become invasive

Man
- Causes ulceration and dysentery
- Infection via consuming contaminated foodstuffs and contact with infected pig faeces

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{OpenPagesTop}}
-{{Taxobox
-|name               =''Balantidium''
-|phylum             =Ciliophora
-|class              =Litostomatea
-|order              =Vestibuliferida
-|family             =Balantiididae
-|genus              =Balantidium
-}}
 [[Image:Balantidium pig.jpg|thumb|right|150px|''Balantidium'' from a pig - Joaquim Castellà Veterinary Parasitology Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona]]
 [[Image:Balantidium pig trophozoite.jpg|thumb|right|150px|''Balantidium'' trophozoite from a pig - Joaquim Castellà Veterinary Parasitology Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona]]
+*Ciliate protozoan found as a commensal in the lumen of the [[Large Intestine - Anatomy & Physiology|large intestine]]
-''Balantidium'' is a ciliate [[:Category:Protozoa|protozoan]] found as a commensal in the lumen of the [[Large Intestine - Anatomy & Physiology|large intestine]]. It infects pigs and other animals, including humans. It is the only ciliate known to be pathogenic.
+*Infects pigs and other animals
+**Including humans
-==Identification==
+'''Recognition'''
+*Ciliate
-''Balantidium'' can be identified by their ciliary organelles on their surface membrances. They are 80μm long and have funnel-shaped depressions leading to the '''cytostome''' (mouth). ''Balantidium'' has two nuclei, one kidney shaped macronucleus and one small micronucleus. ''Balantidium'' also has contractile and food vacuoles, which is rare in parasitic protozoa.
+*80μm long
-==Life Cycle==
+*Funnel-shaped depressions leading to the cytostome (mouth)
-The host ingests a '''cyst''' which passes to the small intestine and undergoes encystation to produces '''trophozoites'''. The trophozoites remain in the intestinal lumen and reproduce by binary fission. They are then released with the faeces and encyst to form new cysts. The cysts are thick-walled, ensuring infection of a new host.
+*Kidney shaped macronucleus
-==Pathogenesis==
+*Small micronucleus
-Pigs are common resevoirs of ''Balantidium coli''. It is usually found as a commensal, but may cause ulceration and dysentery if the intestinal mucosa is damaged already as the parasite will become invasive. Infected pigs shed vast numbers of cysts in their faeces.
-Human infection can occur via consuming contaminated foodstuffs and contact with infected pig faeces. It causes ulceration and dysentery.
+*Contractile and food vacuoles
-==Important Species==
+'''Life Cycle'''
-*''B.coli''
+*Reproduce by binary fission
-:This species is the cause of [[Balantidiasis]], which is pathogenic in humans.
+*Thick-walled cysts pass out with faeces
+**Ensure infection of a new host
-{{Learning
+'''Pathogenesis'''
-|flashcards = [[Protozoa_Flashcards#Other_Important_Protozoa|Protozoa Flashcards]]
+*Pigs
-|literature search =[http://www.cabdirect.org/search.html?rowId=1&options1=AND&q1=Balantidium&occuring1=title&rowId=2&options2=AND&q2=&occuring2=freetext&rowId=3&options3=AND&q3=&occuring3=freetext&x=33&y=9&publishedstart=yyyy&publishedend=yyyy&calendarInput=yyyy-mm-dd&la=any&it=any&show=all ''Balantidium'' publications]
+**Usually commensal
-}}
+**May cause ulceration and dysentery if the intestinal mucosa is damaged already as parasite will become invasive
-==References==
-Melhorn, H.  Encyclopedia Reference of Parasitology.  Second Edition.  Spring, 2001.  Volume I
-{{review}}
-{{OpenPages}}
+*Man
+**Causes ulceration and dysentery
+**Infection via consuming contaminated foodstuffs and contact with infected pig faeces
 [[Category:Miscellaneous Protozoa]]
+[[Category:Actinobacillus_species]]
-[[Category:Expert_Review]]

Difference between revisions of "Balantidium"

Revision as of 18:48, 18 May 2010

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