In this section, we examine two clinically significant causative agents of intestinal infections: the largest human parasite from the class of ciliated protozoa, Balantidium coli, and the sporozoan Cyclospora cayetanensis.
The material consists of two corresponding topics. You will study the morphological features of vegetative forms and cysts, the fecal-oral route of transmission, as well as the mechanisms of ulcerative lesions of the large intestine in balantidiasis and prolonged diarrhea in cyclosporiasis.
During colloquia and exams, instructors most frequently ask about the structure of the macro- and micronucleus in Balantidium, the association of the infection with occupational exposure (pig farming), and the features of acid-fast staining techniques for Cyclospora oocysts (e.g., Ziehl-Neelsen staining).