Mohammad Mirzaei; Hossein Khovand
Volume 4, Issue 1 , September 2015, , Pages 79-86
Abstract
Abstract
Balantidium coli is a ciliate intestinal protozoan with a wide host range in vertebrates, e.g. pigs, cattle, chimpanzees, and more rarely, dogs, cats, sheep, horses, and camels. This parasite causes clinical manifestation from asymptomatic to serious dysenteric forms. A total of 200 cattle ...
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Abstract
Balantidium coli is a ciliate intestinal protozoan with a wide host range in vertebrates, e.g. pigs, cattle, chimpanzees, and more rarely, dogs, cats, sheep, horses, and camels. This parasite causes clinical manifestation from asymptomatic to serious dysenteric forms. A total of 200 cattle were randomly selected from traditional farms of Darab city for a period of six month from January 2012 to July 2013. Feacal samples were prepared directly from rectum of these cattle. These samples were transferred to laboratory and were examined for the detection of Balantidium coli after concentration with formal-ether method and trichorme staining. The prevalence of Balantidium coli in the studied samples was 41.5%. The infection rate of Balantidim coli among female and male cattle was 57 (43.2%) and 26 (38.2%) respectively. The highest and lowest prevalence of Balantidium coli was in more than 3 years old cattle (47.6%) and 1 to 3 years old cattle (25.6%) respectively. There was and statistical significant difference between prevalence and age groups (P<0.05). Out of examined samples 12 (6%) were positive for trophozoite, 48 (24%) for cyst and 23 (11.5%) for (cyst & trophozoite). Finally present study revealed that the cattle of Darab city were infected by Balantidium coli. Because of zoonotic important of this protozoan parasite, the measures should be taken to control and prevent this parasite.
