Common Name(s):
Pig Intestinal Worm Disease
Alternative Names & Classifications:
Balantidiasis (CLINICAL), Balantidium Colitis (CLINICAL)
Description
Humans acquire the infection by ingesting infectious cysts from water or food contaminated with porcine feces. The excysted trophozoites invade the mucosal lining of the large intestine, utilizing hyaluronidase enzymes to create deep ulcers similar to those seen in amebiasis. It generally affects agricultural workers or populations living in close proximity to pigs in developing regions.