Balantidium coli Infections (Balantidiasis)

Most human infections are asymptomatic. Symptomatic infection is characterized either by acute onset of bloody or watery mucoid diarrhea with abdominal pain or with chronic or intermittent episodes of diarrhea, anorexia, and weight loss. Inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract and local lymphatic vessels can result in bowel dilation, ulceration, perforation, and extraintestinal spread or secondary bacterial invasion. Colitis produced by Balantidiumcoli can mimic that of Entamoeba histolytica or noninfectious causes. Fulminant disease can occur in malnourished or otherwise debilitated or immunocompromised patients.

B coli, a ciliated protozoan, is the largest pathogenic protozoan known to infect humans.

Pigs are...