Balantidium coli
Balantidium coli is an intestinal protozoan parasite. The life cycle of
this parasite is very similar to that of Entamoeba
histolytica. Unlike Entamoeba histolytica,
the Balantidium coli trophozoites can encyst
after being passed in the faeces. Balantidium coli can infect many species
of mammal and human infections are most likely acquired by infection from a reservoir
host.
Balantidium coli trophozoite
This page © 2000. Dept. of Zoology, University of Manitoba.
