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Balantioides coli: morphological and ultrastructural characteristics of pig and non-human primate isolates

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Abstract

Balantioides coli is a ciliated protozoon that inhabits the intestine of pigs, non-human primates and humans. Light microscopy studies have described over 50 species of the genus Balantioides but their validity is in doubt. Due to the limited information about this genus, this study is aimed to identify morphological characteristics of Balantioides coli isolated using fluorescence microscopy and both scanning (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Trophozoites isolated from the feces of pig and macaque were washed and subjected to centrifugation. These cells were fixed with paraformaldehyde for immunofluorescence. Other aliquots of these trophozoites were fixed with glutaraldehyde, post fixed with osmium tetroxide and processed for SEM and TEM. Immunofluorescence studies revealed microtubules with a longitudinal distribution to the main axis of the parasite and in the constitution of cilia. SEM demonstrated a high concentration of cilia covering the oral apparatus and a poor presence of such structures in cytopyge. TEM revealed in the plasma membrane, several associated structures were observed to delineate the cellular cortex and mucocysts. The cytoskeleton of the oral region was observed in detail and had an organization pattern consisting of microtubules, which formed files and nematodesmal networks. Organelles such as hydrogenosomes like and peroxisomes were observed close to the cortex. Macronuclei were observed, but structures that were consistent with micronuclei were not identified. Ultrastructural morphological analysis of isolates confirms its similarity to Balantioides coli. In this study were identified structures that had not yet been described, such as hydrogenosomes like and cytoskeletal structures.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratório de Toxoplasmose e outras Protozooses, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Avenida Brasil 4365, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, CEP: 21045900

    Alynne Silva da Barbosa & Maria Regina Reis Amendoeira

  2. Laboratório de Biologia Estrutural, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Av. Brasil 4365, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21040-361, Brazil, CEP: 21045900

    Helene Santos Barbosa & Sandra Maria Oliveira de Souza

  3. Universidade Federal Fluminense, Instituto Biomédico, Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia. Rua Professor Hernani de Mello, São Domingos, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, CEP: 24210130

    Alynne Silva da Barbosa, Laís Verdan Dib, Claudia Maria Antunes Uchôa & Otilio Machado Pereira Bastos

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  1. Alynne Silva da Barbosa
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  2. Helene Santos Barbosa
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  3. Sandra Maria Oliveira de Souza
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  4. Laís Verdan Dib
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  5. Claudia Maria Antunes Uchôa
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  6. Otilio Machado Pereira Bastos
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  7. Maria Regina Reis Amendoeira
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Correspondence to Alynne Silva da Barbosa.

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da Barbosa, A.S., Barbosa, H.S., de Souza, S.M.O. et al. Balantioides coli: morphological and ultrastructural characteristics of pig and non-human primate isolates. Acta Parasit. 63, 287–298 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1515/ap-2018-0033

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