Balantidium coli in domestic animals: An emerging protozoan pathogen of zoonotic significance

Ahmed, Arslan; Ijaz, Muhammad; Ayyub, Rana Muhammad; Ghaffar, Awais; Ghauri, Hammad Nayyar; Aziz, Muhammad Umair; Ali, Sadaqat; Altaf, Muhammad; Awais, Muhammad; Naveed, Muhammad; Nawab, Yasir; Javed, Muhammad Umar

doi:10.1016/j.actatropica.2019.105298

Cited by 93 publications

(72 citation statements)

References 70 publications

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“…The protozoa found in coinfections with rumen fluke in the bulls were B. coli and Eimeria spp. B. coli is a common opportunistic protozoan of man and animals and causes gastroenteritis, also known as balantidiasis, which mostly arises by ingesting infective cysts from food and water contaminated by feces from pigs or cattle [ 18 ]. Human infection is usually asymptomatic, but sometimes symptoms such as diarrhea and abdominal pain are observed [ 19 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gastrointestinal parasite infections in fighting bulls in South Thailand

et al. 2020

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Background and Aim: Bullfighting is booming in South Thailand, attracting tourists, and stimulating local economies. The bulls are well raised and practiced, but in many cases, the owners lack knowledge and understanding of the prevention of animal diseases, including parasitic infections. This study aimed to determine the occurrence of gastrointestinal (GI) parasite infection in fighting bulls. Materials and Methods: A total of 1501 fecal samples were collected from bulls aged 2-5 years visiting the animal hospital of Prince of Songkla University during 2016-2019. The formalin ethylether concentration method was used to detect GI parasites in feces. Results: The overall rate of GI parasite infection was 94.27%. Rumen fluke eggs were detected in 97.17% of all infected animals, followed in prevalence by strongyles (26.29%), Eurytrema spp. (2.83%), Fasciola spp. (2.47%), Trichuris spp. (0.35%), and Moniezia spp. (0.14%). Two protozoan genera were identified, Balantidium coli (6.64%) and Eimeria spp. (3.53%). Coinfection was observed in 33.99%. The five most common coinfections were rumen fluke with strongyles (20.85%), B. coli (4.66%), Eimeria spp. (1.55%), Eurytrema spp. (1.34%), and Fasciola spp. (1.06%). Conclusion: In addition to high GI parasite infection rates, zoonotic parasites were observed. Therefore, it is recommended that farmers should follow good sanitation and prevention practices to control parasitic infections in bulls, and proper hygienic precautions should be taken by the owners. Implementation of deworming programs using appropriate anthelmintic drugs as well as rotation of anthelmintic drug that have different chemical agent to prevent further drug resistance should be considered. The promotion of bull health management is highly recommended to protect humans from zoonotic diseases.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gastrointestinal parasite infections in fighting bulls in South Thailand

et al. 2020

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“…On the other hand, other authors have reported that animals reared with tie stalls management are less prone to the infection than those reared on free stall management system where the hygienic and antiparasitic control plans are harder to manage. The higher prevalence herein reported, the higher Available at www.veterinaryworld.org/Vol.14/April-2021/33.pdf prevalence in commercial hybrid is probably related to the maintenance systems and the hygienic condition of the farms that are relevant risk factors for parasite spread [8,12]. In this regard, Sangioni et al [43] reported the presence of B. coli in several swine farms kept in intensive farming systems stressing that swine farms with better hygienic and sanitary standards had lower parasitic infection rate.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 71%

“…Neobalantidium coli or B. coli), represents a neglected parasitic infection of zoonotic significance affecting a variety of hosts including human [4][5][6]. B. coli (Malmsten, 1857), a ciliated protozoan, belonging to the family Balantidiidae [7], is considered a commensal of the intestine of several mammalian hosts (i.e., pig, human, camel, monkey, and rarely dog and rat) [8,9]. The reservoir host is the domestic and wild pigs, in which the parasite inhabits mainly the villi or lumen of the large intestine [10,11].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, given the apparent low pathogenicity in animals, balantidiasis was not considered a disease of relevant public interest. Nevertheless, their high incidence worldwide, the possible fatal outcome in humans, the continuous change in the livestock sector, and the evolution of international markets, stress the importance of not underestimating balantidiasis in both developing and developed countries [8,[31][32][33].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The cyst is the non-replicating form, excreted with feces, inside of could survive for weeks [ 12 ], and is responsible for the infection of new hosts. The trophozoite is vegetative form that normally is detected in the host intestine and could survive only a few hours outside the host [ 8 , 13 ]. B. coli has a direct life cycle with a fecal-oral route transmission that occurs mainly by the ingestion of food and water contaminated with cysts [ 14 , 15 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Prevalence of Balantidium coli (Malmsten, 1857) infection in swine reared in South Italy: A widespread neglected zoonosis

et al. 2021

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Background and Aim: Balantidiasis, caused by Balantidium coli (syn. Neobalantidium coli or B. coli), represents a neglected parasitic infection of zoonotic significance affecting a variety of hosts, including domestic pigs that are the main reservoir. B. coli has a direct life cycle with a fecal-oral route transmission that occurs mainly by the ingestion of food and water contaminated with cysts. The ingestion of meat contaminated during inappropriate slaughtering processes may represent a new potential route of transmission. Only a few studies have investigated the prevalence of B. coli in domestic pigs in Italy, despite its high prevalence and zoonotic significance. This study aimed to improve the knowledge on B. coli prevalence in domestic swine reared both in intensive and "en plein air" breeding systems in the south of Italy. Materials and Methods: The infection rate of B. coli in pigs bred in 15 different pig farms and regularly slaughtered in South Italy, in the Calabria region, was investigated. From 2017 to 2019, 177 terminal parts of the rectums of pigs, of which 91 commercial hybrids and 86 autochthonous (Nero Calabrese), reared, respectively, in intensive and "en plein air" breeding system, were tested for parasite detection. After the slaughtering, the terminal part of the rectum was sampled and transported to the laboratories and immediately processed. For the detection of trophozoites, fresh smears of feces were examined at light microscopy. Moreover, flotation was performed using a sodium chloride solution, then smears of feces were dispersed on microscope slides and examined at light microscopy. The observed parasites were identified at the species level using morphological characteristics. Results: B. coli was detected in a total of 83 (i.e., 46.89%) pigs, with a significantly higher prevalence (p<0.0001) found in commercial hybrid (i.e., 59/91-64.84%) pigs rather than in autochthonous ones (i.e., 24/86-27.91%). It follows that the infection was more common in pigs reared in the intensive breeding system than in "en plein air" ones (p<0.0001). The infection prevalence was higher in males than in females and lower in elder animals than in younger ones (p=0.012 and p<0.0001, respectively). Conclusion: The breeding system is likely the main discriminant for the parasite spread as well as the hygienic condition of the farms. Good manufacturing and hygiene practices along the food production chain are crucial in preventing human balantidiasis transmission by meat consumption. The high B. coli prevalence, the wide spectrum of host species, and its zoonotic significance push toward a greater public interest.

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Camel-Related Zoonoses: A Light on “Ship of the Desert”

Sazmand

Nourian

2022

Zoonoses: Infections Affecting Humans and Animals

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Balantidium coli in domestic animals: An emerging protozoan pathogen of zoonotic significance

Cited by 93 publications

References 70 publications

Gastrointestinal parasite infections in fighting bulls in South Thailand

Gastrointestinal parasite infections in fighting bulls in South Thailand

Prevalence of Balantidium coli (Malmsten, 1857) infection in swine reared in South Italy: A widespread neglected zoonosis

Camel-Related Zoonoses: A Light on “Ship of the Desert”

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