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 large intestine damage in balantidiasis and prolonged diarrhea in cyclosporiasis.
During colloquia and exams, professors most frequently ask about the structure of the macro- and micronucleus of Balantidium, the association of the infection with an occupational factor (pig farming), and the features of staining Cyclospora oocysts using acid-fast methods (e.g., Ziehl-Neelsen).