Monday, April 13, 2020

Case of the Week 587

This week's case features objects seen in a concentrate from a diarrheic stool specimen. The objects measure approximately 60 micrometers in greatest dimension. Identification?


14 comments:

Graham Clark said...

(Neo)Balantidium/Balantioides coli cysts

Sam said...

Based on the size and presence of a bean shaped macronucleus, I would guess Balantidium coli trophozoite. I am unsure of whether I can see cilia, or if this just the quality of the image. I am also unsure of why the object is so green!

Sheldon Campbell said...

Balantidium coli; SO cool.

The kidney-bean shaped ciliate macronucleus is the somatic nucleus of the organism, which contains the transcriptionally-active genes amplified and reorganized into literally hundreds of chromosomes. When the ciliate reproduces sexually by conjugation, the micronucleus (containing the canonincal 'genome' of the organism) does the dirty deed, then a new macronucleus is generated by processes still being described.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3746294/

Unknown said...

Based on the size and shape of the organism,it is most probably Balantidium coli trophozoite

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful case. The bean shape nucleus is so well captured and the cilia so visible in the second picture.
My thoughts are how do we differentiate between B. coli and B. suis? Another question is that can humans be infected by the ones of the pigs? America is so clean and each time we find a specimen positive with B. coli, the finding is a specially exciting trophy.
Florida Fan

Anonymous said...

Balantidium coli!
One of my favorites, with its boring motility.

BW in Vt

Karine said...

Balantidium coli

Sir Galahad said...

Balantidium coli, trophozoites

José M Saugar said...

Balantidium coli

Jose Q said...

It is Balantidium coli. The typical bean shaped macronucleus.

Lonna said...

Balantidium coli!

Idzi P. said...

Agreed! Although I think that the latest taxonomy calls it “Balantioides coli”.
This cool critter (thanks Sheldon for pointing out the complexity of this ciliate) changes names more rapidly than one can say “Neobalantidium”!

William Sears said...

Balantidium coli

Old One said...

Was it a dream or did it really happen. Before all this virus nonsense I remember attending a party in a beautiful home. All sorts of parasites were in attendance. The hostess was Balantidium (the Bell of the ball). Was this just my imagination or did it truly happen. If only there were a picture.