RT Book, Section A1 Rosenthal, Philip J. A2 Papadakis, Maxine A. A2 McPhee, Stephen J. A2 Rabow, Michael W. A2 McQuaid, Kenneth R. SR Print(0) ID 1193137935 T1 Other Intestinal Flagellate Infections T2 Current Medical Diagnosis & Treatment 2023 YR 2023 FD 2023 PB McGraw-Hill Education PP New York, NY SN 9781264687343 LK accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1193137935 RD 2024/03/28 AB Balantidium coli (also referred to as Balantioides coli) is a large ciliated intestinal protozoan found worldwide, but particularly in the tropics. Pigs are the main reservoir. The infection is rare in humans, and results from ingestion of cysts passed in stools of humans or swine. In the new host, the cyst wall dissolves and the trophozoite may invade intestinal mucosa, causing abscesses and ulcerations. Many infections are asymptomatic. Chronic infections may cause recurrent diarrhea or dysentery. Deaths have occurred from intestinal perforation and hemorrhage.