Age-dependent occurrence of the intestinal ciliate Balantidium coli in pigs at a Danish research farm

A cross sectional study of the prevalence and intensity of Balantidium coli in pigs was carried out on a Danish research farm. The prevalence of B. co li infection increased from 57% in suckling piglets to 100% in most pig gro ups greater than or equal to 4 weeks old. The mean number of cysts per gram faeces (CPG) of pigs aged 12 weeks and younger were less than or equal to 206, whereas pigs aged 28 weeks and >52 weeks had significantly higher coun ts of greater than or equal to 865 CPG. Although some lactating sows had ve ry high CPG's, no significant differences in CPG could be detected between the intensities of pregnant sows, lactating sows and empty and dry sows. No human cases of B. coli infection have been published in Denmark though it is zoonotic.