Balantidial dysentery: A human case in Northern Ireland

1) Balantidial dysentery in a 10-year-old boy, who had suffered from chronic diarrhoea for over 5 years, and had spent much time in hospital, is presented. This is only the third human case of balantidiasis reported in the British Isles. He was almost certainly infected by eating dirt mixed with pig faeces containing Balantidium coli. 2) A cure with stovarsol (acetarsol) is claimed. In a follow-up period of 14 months no further B. coli have been detected in the stools and the patient's general condition has very much improved. 3) In a survey of healthy pigs slaughtered at the Belfast abattoir the incidence of B. coli infestation was 74 per cent. 4) Experiments with flies suggested the possibility that they could act as mechanical carriers of B. coli. 5) Because balantidial dysentery usually occurs in insanitary surroundings, particularly where personal hygiene is faulty and where there is an association with pigs, it is suggested that in the routine investigation of such patients suffering from unexplained diarrhoea their faeces should be examined for B. coli. It is emphasized that faeces must be fresh and the parasite first sought by employing a low magnification of the microscope.