Balantidiidae
Genus of single-celled organisms
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Balantidiidae is a biological family of chromists in the phylum Ciliophora. The family name comes from the type genus Balantidium.[2][3][1]
| Balantidiidae | |
|---|---|
| |
| Balantidium coli trophozoite | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Clade: | Sar |
| Clade: | Alveolata |
| Phylum: | Ciliophora |
| Class: | Litostomatea |
| Order: | Vestibuliferida |
| Family: | Balantidiidae Reichenow in Doflein & Reichenow, 1929[1] |
| Type genus | |
| Balantidium | |
Distribution
The Balantidium coli species has a worldwide distribution, but is more frequent in subtropical and temperate climates. The medical condition balantidiasis is particularly prevalent where poor hygiene and undernourishment weaken a population coincide with living in close contact with pigs, the main reservoir for the species.[4]
