208 



PROTOZOAN PARASITISM 



character, or of blood-stained mucinous material, or 

 liquid feces without gross blood. The individual 

 may have more or less tenesmus, griping, abdominal 

 discomfort, pain, and tenderness. Depending on the 



Fig. 34. 



Balantidium coli within a vein, containing a thrombus, in the 

 subperitoneal coat of the colon in balantidial dysentery. Photo- 

 micrograph X 96. 



activity and length of the course, there may be ir- 

 regular fever, weakness, loss of weight, various or- 

 ganic disfunctions, exhaustion, and even death. 



The diagnosis depends upon the identification of 

 the parasite in the stool, it always being present in 



