Isolated Balantidium coli in a 1.5-Year-Old Boy: A Case Report.

PURPOSE: Balantidium coli, is a protozoa that can infect humans. Balantidium coli infection is mostly asymptomatic, but can cause of diarrhea, abdominal pain and sometimes perforated colon. There are only few previous reports regarding the infant balantidiasis and there is a little information about its clinical signs and treatment. In Islamic countries pig farming and consumption is prohibited and reservoir host is unknown. METHODS: 1.5 years old boy showed sever anorexia and diarrhea. The affected infant was depressed. The evaluation of fecal examination revealed a large number of B. coli trophozoites and cysts leaded us to an uncommon presentation of B. coli in the infant. RESULTS: A few reports of human balantidiasis from Iran seems quite extraordinary. Wild boars have been proposed the responsible for transmission of human infection in Iran. CONCLUSION: However, this report as the first report of infant balantidiasis in Iran supports the role of other sources and domestic or wild animals as reservoir hosts for B. coli in Iran.

Prevalence and sequence diversity of Balantioides coli in pigs in Xinjiang, China.

Balantioides coli is a common intestinal parasitic protozoan in pigs. In the present study, 801 fecal samples of pigs from seven farms in Xinjiang were analyzed based on the ITS1-5.8S rRNA-ITS2 gene. The prevalence of B. coli was 4.2% (34/801), with the highest prevalence of 18.9% (18/95) occurring in Alaer, Xinjiang. B. coli was detected in all age groups (pre-weaned pigs, post-weaned pigs, fattening pigs and sows), with the highest rate in fatteners (6.9%, 9/129) and the lowest (1.2%, 2/169) in pre-weaned pigs. Significant differences (P = 0.000) were found among sampling sites but not among age groups (P = 0.084). Sequence analysis indicated that 34 sequence variants, including sequence type A (n = 11) and sequence type B (n = 23), occurred in all age groups. In this study, the existence of sequence type A suggested that B. coli poses a potential threat to human health. More studies are needed to better understand the distributions and public health significance of B. coli in China.

Modified DMEM xenic culture medium for propagation, isolation and maintenance of Balantioides coli.

Balantioides coli is a known ciliated zoonotic protozoan that mainly causes diarrhea in humans and pigs. An efficient and reliable culture system for this parasite remains unavailable until now. In this study, a modified Dulbecco's modified eagle medium (DMEM) with pH 7.0-7.5, containing 5 mg/mL starch and 20% new calf serum, was optimized for propagation of B. coli at 28°C-32°C. At the growth-peaking stage, the average trophozoite density was up to 12,970 trophozoites per milliliter. A reproducible protocol for isolation and maintenance of this parasite was also developed based on the modified DMEM culture medium. Moreover, cloning results of B. colipopulations showed that 250 trophozoites in 3 mL modified DMEM medium were the minimal number of trophozoites that propagated to the growth-peaking stage, and finally obtained the individual population. However, less than 250 trophozoites failed to continuously grow in the modified DMEM culture medium under the optimal conditions for growth of B. coli. These data showed that the modified DMEM culture medium is an ideal and efficient medium for propagation and maintenance of B. coli in vitro and will help studies on its biology, genome, transcriptome, proteome, and drug screening.

Alterations in the diversity and composition of gut microbiota in weaned piglets infected with Balantioides coli.

Balantioides coli is a ciliated parasite that can cause diarrhea when inhabiting the colon and cecum of pigs and humans. However, information regarding the changes in structure and composition of the gut microbiome in piglets infected with B. coli remains scarce. In this study, 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing was conducted on fecal samples from both B. coli-positive piglets with diarrhea and B. coli-negative piglets without diarrhea. The results showed that Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes were the major phyla in the two groups, and the relative abundance of the phylum Firmicutes, including Ruminococcaceae and Clostridiaceae, was significantly lower in the B. coli-positive samples than in the B. coli-negative ones (p < 0.05). Compared with B. coli-negative samples, Alloprevotella and Faecalibacterium showed distinctly higher relative abundances (p < 0.05) in the B. coli-positive samples, and the abundances of some potential pathogenic bacteria, including Escherichia-Shigella and Campylobacter, were positively correlated with B. coli infection and diarrhea of weaned piglets. In addition, there were statistically significant differences in fecal microbiota diversity and abundances of predicted functional genes between B. coli-colonized and B. coli-negative samples (p <  0.05). Taken together, these findings suggest that there were significant differences in the bacterial community composition, diversity, and functions between the B. coli-positive and B. coli-negative piglets, and the colonization by B. coli may be associated with the dysbiosis of gut microbiota structure in weaned piglets.

Prevalence and molecular identification of Balantioides coli isolates from pet guinea pigs in Central China.

Balantioides coli is the only known zoonotic ciliate that can infect humans and is usually acquired from swine. It has, however, been reported in other mammals, including guinea pigs, where infection prevalence and molecular characterization are relatively unknown. In the present study, 32 guinea pigs from two different pet markets in Luoyang city of the Henan province in China were evaluated for ciliate-like trophozoites or cysts by direct fecal smear microscopy. Positive samples were further characterized using 18S rDNA and ITS1-5.8S rDNA-ITS2 sequence analysis. Microscopy indicated that ciliate-like cysts were observed in the fecal samples of several guinea pigs, were spherical in shape, and exhibited sizes of 40-65 µm in diameter. The average cyst-positive prevalence in guinea pigs was 62.5%. Sequence analysis indicated that the guinea pig-derived ciliate isolates belonged to B. coli and included two genetic variants (A and B), of which genetic variant A was more dominant among the guinea pig samples. To the best of our knowledge, the present study is the first molecular identification of B. coli in guinea pigs and provides some important information for investigating the molecular epidemiology of B. coli.

Urinary balantidiasis in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus and lupus nephritis: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Balantidium coli, a parasitic unicellular ciliate, often causes asymptomatic balantidiasis of the colon, but extraintestinal disease may occur rarely in immunosuppressed individuals. Renal balantidiasis associated with systemic lupus erythematosus has not been reported before. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a case of a 48-year-old Thai woman who presented with nephrotic syndrome due to systemic lupus erythematosus-related nephritis. Initially, few B. coli cysts were found in urine sediment, but these increased substantially following treatment with prednisolone. She made an uneventful recovery with 10 days of oral tetracycline therapy. No B. coli cysts were found in her stool. CONCLUSION: The route of infection in our patient was unclear but is likely to have been orofecal. Neither her infection nor its treatment caused a deterioration in her renal function.

Dysentery Caused by Balantidium coli in China.

Balantidium coli human infection predominantly occurs in tropical and subtropical regions in the world. Human case is extremely rare in China. This report details a case of B. coli infection in a 68-year-old man in China, who presented with history of abdominal pain, tenesmus, diarrhea with blood and was diagnosed as B. coli-caused dysentery. Our case indicates possible occurrence of Balantidium coli-related disease in cooler climates. This case is presented not only because of its rarity but also for future references.

Endoparasitism of Greek ostriches: First report of Entamoeba struthionis and Balantioides coli.

Ostrich farming is a worldwide practice and an internationally developing industry. Among challenges in livestock production are the parasitic infections. The present study aimed to the investigation of the gastrointestinal parasites biota and prevalence in ostriches raised in different areas of Greece. A total of 141 clinically healthy ostriches originating from four different localities of Greece were coprologically examined for parasites of the gastrointestinal tract. Coprological examination revealed a considerably high rate of infection (65.9%) with protozoa; however, no helminths (trematodes, cestodes and nematodes) were detected. In detail, cysts of Entamoeba struthionis have been found in 57.4% of the examined birds. Moreover, 39.0% of sampled ostriches harboured cysts of Balantioides coli (syn. Balantidium coli), while oocysts of Cryptosporidium sp. were detected at a low percentage (2.1%). Partial sequences of the small subunit rRNA (16S rRNA) gene and the ITS region were amplified from pooled Entamoeba and Balantioides positive samples, respectively, confirming for the first time the presence of Entamoeba struthionis and Balantioides coli in ostriches in Greece. Some of these parasitoses require attention as they may affect productivity performance of the animals in commercial ostrich farming and possibly pose disease risk for livestock and humans.

Diversity and prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in two wild Galago species in Gabon.

In this study, we characterize the diversity and estimated infection levels of gastrointestinal parasites circulating in two galago species, Galago demidoff and G. thomasi in two sites situated in the Southeastern forests of Gabon. Our study reveals that eleven parasites including nine helminthes (Ascaris spp., Ankylostoma spp., Dicrocoelium spp., Gongylonema spp., Oesophagostomum spp., Lemuricola spp., Strongyloides spp. Trichostrongylus spp. and Trichuris spp.) and two protozoans (Balantidium spp. and Entamoeba spp.) may infect Galago spp. with high infection rates. The results show that: a very similar parasite spectrum is found in both host species; all the taxa identified were previously observed in other Primate species and/or Man. They also show that age, gender and forest type may influence infection rates and/or parasite diversity found in a particular host and/or geographic area.

The First Case of Diarrhoea in Tibetan Sheep, Ovis aries, Caused by Balantidium coli in the Qinghai Tibetan Plateau Area, China.

This study was carried out to determine the pathogen-causing diarrhoea in sheep Ovis aries in the Qinghai Tibetan Plateau Area, China. A trophozoite was identified as species of ciliate alveolates infecting the sheep based on morphological characteristics examined by microscope. It was mostly spherical, colourless and transparent, with many vesicles. Macronucleus and contractile vacuoles could not be distinguished. Size of the trophozoite was 80-180 × 70-150 µm and its surface was covered with cilia. Molecular analysis based on sequences of 18S rRNA and ITS genes confirmed the ciliate species as Balantidium coli. According to the literature, there have been many epidemiological investigations of B. coli infection in pigs, monkeys and humans. To our knowledge, this was the first report of B. coli infections in sheep in the Qinghai Tibetan Plateau Area of China, or eleswhere around the world. Importantly, the sheep case was rare but raised our concern that B. coli may spread across species and expand its host range.

Phylogenomic analysis of Balantidium ctenopharyngodoni (Ciliophora, Litostomatea) based on single-cell transcriptome sequencing.

In this paper, we present transcriptome data for Balantidium ctenopharyngodoni Chen, 1955 collected from the hindgut of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella). We evaluated sequence quality and de novo assembled a preliminary transcriptome, including 43.3 megabits and 119,141 transcripts. Then we obtained a final transcriptome, including 17.7 megabits and 35,560 transcripts, by removing contaminative and redundant sequences. Phylogenomic analysis based on a supermatrix with 132 genes comprising 53,873 amino acid residues and phylogenetic analysis based on SSU rDNA of 27 species were carried out herein to reveal the evolutionary relationships among six ciliate groups: Colpodea, Oligohymenophorea, Litostomatea, Spirotrichea, Heterotrichea and Protocruziida. The topologies of both phylogenomic and phylogenetic trees are discussed in this paper. In addition, our results suggest that single-cell sequencing is a sound method of obtaining sufficient omics data for phylogenomic analysis, which is a good choice for uncultivable ciliates. The transcriptome data for Balantidium ctenopharyngodoni are the first omics data within the subclass Trichostomatia, and provide a good basis for ciliate phylogenomic analysis, as well as related omics analysis.

A Comparative Study of Four Methods for the Detection of Nematode Eggs and Large Protozoan Cysts in Mandrill Faecal Material.

Coproscopical methods like sedimentation and flotation techniques are widely used in the field for studying simian gastrointestinal parasites. Four parasites of known zoonotic potential were studied in a free-ranging, non-provisioned population of mandrills (Mandrillus sphinx): 2 nematodes (Necatoramericanus/Oesophagostomum sp. complex and Strongyloides sp.) and 2 protozoan species (Balantidium coli and Entamoeba coli). Different coproscopical techniques are available but they are rarely compared to evaluate their efficiency to retrieve parasites. In this study 4 different field-friendly methods were compared. A sedimentation method and 3 different McMaster methods (using sugar, salt, and zinc sulphate solutions) were performed on 47 faecal samples collected from different individuals of both sexes and all ages. First, we show that McMaster flotation methods are appropriate to detect and thus quantify large protozoan cysts. Second, zinc sulphate McMaster flotation allows the retrieval of a higher number of parasite taxa compared to the other 3 methods. This method further shows the highest probability to detect each of the studied parasite taxa. Altogether our results show that zinc sulphate McMaster flotation appears to be the best technique to use when studying nematodes and large protozoa.

Occurrence, clinical involvement and zoonotic potential of endoparasites infecting Swiss pigs.

In order to estimate the diversity, clinical involvement and zoonotic potential of parasites in pigs submitted for diagnosis to the PathoPig project of the Swiss Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office, faeces (n=125) from suckling piglets (n=39), weaners (n=60) and piglets beginning fattening (n=26) from 74 Swiss farms were examined by 3 coproscopical methods (i.e. sedimentation/zinc chloride-flotation; SAFC and Ziehl-Neelsen staining). Samples microscopically positive for Cryptosporidium were further tested by PCR/sequencing for species assessment. The most frequently detected parasite was Balantidium coli, a facultative pathogenic ciliate with zoonotic potential, in 5.1, 36.7 and 50.0% of suckling, weaners and fatteners and 43.2% of farms; however, no association with disease was observed. Isospora (syn. Cystoisospora) suis infections were detected in 13.3 and 11.1% of suckling piglets with and without diarrhoea, and in 10.0 and 13.3% of weaners and fatteners with diarrhoea, respectively, and were significant associated with emaciation. Cryptosporidium infections were detected in 10.3, 15.0 and 19.2% of sucklings, weaners and fatteners, respectively, and in 18.9% of the farms. Interestingly, two age-related species were identified: C. suis in younger piglets (2 to 6weeks) and C. scrofarum in older ones (6 to 17weeks). None of the pigs infected with C. scrofarum (n=8), but 3 of 4 piglets infected with C. suis (co-infection with I. suis in 2 cases) had diarrhoea. The zoonotic species C. parvum was not detected, nevertheless, sporadic cases of human infection with the porcine-adapted species have been reported. Ascaris suum, Trichuris suis and Strongylida were rarely detected (<4%) in all age categories.

Molecular genetic investigations on Balantidium ctenopharyngodoni Chen, 1955, a parasite of the grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella).

Balantidium ctenopharyngodoni is a common ciliate in Hungary, infecting the hindgut of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella), a cyprinid fish of Chinese origin. Although data have already been presented on its occasional pathogenic effect on the endothelium of the host, generally it is a harmless inhabitant of the gut. Phylogenetic analysis of the 18S rDNA and ITS fragments of this protozoan proved that it is in the closest phylogenetic relationship with endocommensalist and symbiont ciliates of mammals feeding on large volumes of green forage, in a similar way as Balantidium spp. known from algae-eating marine fishes.

[Advances in researches of balantidiosis].

Balantidiosis is a disease infected with Balantidium coli, and swine is the main infection source. The infection of B. coli may cause diarrhea, extra intestinal infection and co-infection with other pathogens and even intestinal necrosis. Strengthening the manure management of both human and livestock, paying attention to personal hygiene and labor protection, and timely treatment of the patients are the main measures to control balantidiosis.

Endoparasite survey of free-swimming baleen whales (Balaenoptera musculus, B. physalus, B. borealis) and sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) using non/minimally invasive methods.

A number of parasitic diseases have gained importance as neozoan opportunistic infections in the marine environment. Here, we report on the gastrointestinal endoparasite fauna of three baleen whale species and one toothed whale: blue (Balaenoptera musculus), fin (Balaenoptera physalus), and sei whales (Balaenoptera borealis) and sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) from the Azores Islands, Portugal. In total, 17 individual whale fecal samples [n = 10 (B. physalus); n = 4 (P. macrocephalus); n = 2 (B. musculus); n = 1 (B. borealis)] were collected from free-swimming animals as part of ongoing studies on behavioral ecology. Furthermore, skin biopsies were collected from sperm whales (n = 5) using minimally invasive biopsy darting and tested for the presence of Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum, and Besnoitia besnoiti DNA via PCR. Overall, more than ten taxa were detected in whale fecal samples. Within protozoan parasites, Entamoeba spp. occurred most frequently (64.7%), followed by Giardia spp. (17.6%) and Balantidium spp. (5.9%). The most prevalent metazoan parasites were Ascaridida indet. spp. (41.2%), followed by trematodes (17.7%), acanthocephalan spp., strongyles (11.8%), Diphyllobotrium spp. (5.9%), and spirurids (5.9%). Helminths were mainly found in sperm whales, while enteric protozoan parasites were exclusively detected in baleen whales, which might be related to dietary differences. No T. gondii, N. caninum, or B. besnoiti DNA was detected in any skin sample. This is the first record on Giardia and Balantidium infections in large baleen whales.

Isolation and maintenance of Balantidium coli (Malmsteim, 1857) cultured from fecal samples of pigs and non-human primates.

Balantidium coli is a protozoa that can determine dysentery in humans, pigs and non-human primates having zoonotic potential. The lack of standardization in isolation and maintenance hinders the development of research on its biology and epidemiology. This study is aimed to standardize the isolation and maintenance of this parasite from animal feces, in culture medium, Pavlova modified. From 2012 to 2014, 1905 fecal samples were collected from captive animals of Rio de Janeiro. Were selected for isolation samples with a minimum of 10 trophozoites and/or 30 cysts of B. coli, totaling 88 pigs, 26 Cynomolgus and 90 rhesus macaques. In the presence of cysts, the sample was homogenized in saline solution, 500 µL was removed and inoculated into culture medium. The material that contained trophozoites the inoculum was made from 240 µL of fecal solution. All inoculate tubes with the subcultures were kept at 36°C, and sterile rice starch was always added to the medium. The parasites isolate from pigs, 34%, and from Cynomolgus 38.4% were maintained in vitro for a period of more than 24 months. These procedures proved to be adequate for isolation and maintenance of B. coli from different animals, they were found to be inexpensive and easy to perform.

Differences between chimpanzee and baboon gastrointestinal parasite communities.

Cross-species infection among humans, chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) and baboons (Papio spp.) is potentially a significant public health issue in Africa, and of concern in the conservation of P. troglodytes. However, to date, no statistical comparisons have been made between the prevalence, richness and composition of parasite communities in sympatric populations of baboons and P. troglodytes. We compared parasite communities in sympatric P. troglodytes and Papio papio living in a wilderness site, in the Republic of Senegal, West Africa. We asked whether, in the absence of humans, there are significant differences between these hosts in their interactions with gastrointestinal parasites. We tested whether host, location, or time of collection accounted for variation in prevalence, richness and community composition, and compared prevalence across six studies. We concluded that, despite being closely related, there are significant differences between these two hosts with respect to their parasite communities. At our study site, prevalence of Balantidium, Trichuris and Watsonius was higher in P. papio. Papio papio harboured more parasites per host, and we found evidence of a positive association between Trichuris and Balantidium in P. troglodytes but not P. papio.

Balantidium coli and other gastrointestinal parasites in captives non-human primates of the Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Parasites are agents of diarrhea in captive non-human primates (NHP). To broaden information about those etiological agents in captive animals in Brazil, gastrointestinal parasites in captive NHP were researched in nurturing Centers of Rio de Janeiro State. METHODS: Fecal samples were collected from primates, of which 960 came from the Research Center (Cecal/Fiocruz) and 115 from the Primate Center (CPRJ/Inea). The study involved species of the New World (NW) primates and of the Old World (OW). RESULTS: The estimated prevalence was 56.7%, of which 91.3% presented protozoans and 7.4% presented helminths. Statistical difference between the nurturing centers occurred in the overall value of parasitosis and in the isolated frequency of Balantidium coli and Entamoeba sp., especially in the samples of OW primates living in Cecal. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrated the need for implements of sanitation programs in the sites for captive primates nurturing.

New insights into the molecular phylogeny of Balantidium (Ciliophora, Vetibuliferida) based on the analysis of new sequences of species from fish hosts.

We obtained sequences of the small subunit ribosomal RNA (rRNA) for two new isolates of Balantidium from fishes, Balantidium polyvacuolum and Balantidium ctenopharingodoni. This is the first introduction of molecular data of Balantidium species from fish hosts in the phylogenetic analyses of the ciliate subclass Trichostomatia. Despite the fact that these species share morphological characteristics common to other species of Balantidium, the phylogenetic analysis of their sequences has shown that they are to be placed in a different branch closely related to the so-called Australian clade. Thus, our results indicate that the genus Balantidium is polyphyletic and possibly should be represented by two different genera; however, the analysis of more species from other poikilothermic hosts (amphibians, reptiles) should be made before a revised taxonomical proposal could be made.