title: Comparison of five parasitological techniques for laboratory diagnosis of Balantidium coli cysts.
abstract: Balantidium coli is a protozoon that can cause dysentery in humans, pigs and nonhuman primates, with zoonotic potential. In the literature, there is still little information on the effectiveness of different laboratory techniques for diagnosing this disease. This study compared and evaluated the performance of the Lutz, modified Ritchie, Faust, modified Sheather and direct examination techniques for detecting cysts of this protozoon. Between 2012 and 2014, 1905 fecal samples were collected from captive animals in the state of Rio de Janeiro. Of these, 790 were obtained from the rectum of pigs and 1115 from enclosures occupied by nonhuman primates. B. coli cysts were most evident through direct examination (22.4% of the samples) and the Lutz technique (21%). Fair agreement (Kappa = 0.41; p < 0.05) was observed only between direct examination and Lutz. The flotation techniques (Faust and modified Sheather) did not show good recovery of cysts. A statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) in the frequency of cysts between pigs and nonhuman primates could only be observed through direct examination and the Lutz technique. The most efficient method for diagnosing this parasitosis was seen to an association between direct examination and the spontaneous sedimentation technique.
authors: Laboratório de Toxoplasmose, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz - Fiocruz-RJ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
authors: Alynne da Silva
authors: Ada S
authors: Barbosa
authors: Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Instituto Biomédico, Universidade Federal Fluminense - UFF, Niterói, RJ, Brasil.
authors: Otilio Machado Pereira
authors: OM
authors: Bastos
authors: Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Instituto Biomédico, Universidade Federal Fluminense - UFF, Niterói, RJ, Brasil.
authors: Claudia Maria Antunes
authors: CM
authors: Uchôa
authors: Centro de Primatologia do Rio de Janeiro - CPRJ, Instituto Estadual do Ambiente, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
authors: Alcides
authors: A
authors: Pissinatti
authors: Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Instituto Biomédico, Universidade Federal Fluminense - UFF, Niterói, RJ, Brasil.
authors: Augusto César Machado Pereira
authors: AC
authors: Bastos
authors: Serviço de Criação de Primatas não humanos - CECAL, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz - Fiocruz-RJ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
authors: Igo Vieira de
authors: IV
authors: Souza
authors: Laboratório de Toxoplasmose, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz - Fiocruz-RJ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
authors: Laís Verdan
authors: LV
authors: Dib
authors: Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Instituto Biomédico, Universidade Federal Fluminense - UFF, Niterói, RJ, Brasil.
authors: Eduarda Peixoto
authors: EP
authors: Azevedo
authors: Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Instituto Biomédico, Universidade Federal Fluminense - UFF, Niterói, RJ, Brasil.
authors: Mayara Perlingeiro de
authors: MP
authors: Siqueira
authors: Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Instituto Biomédico, Universidade Federal Fluminense - UFF, Niterói, RJ, Brasil.
authors: Matheus Lessa
authors: ML
authors: Cardozo
authors: Laboratório de Toxoplasmose, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz - Fiocruz-RJ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
authors: Maria Regina Reis
authors: MR
authors: Amendoeira
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001447:Balantidiasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D001448:Balantidium / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques / Q000662:veterinary; D003560:Cysts / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology*; D010274:Parasitology / Q000379:methods; D011323:Primates / Q000469:parasitology*; D013552:Swine / Q000469:parasitology