A comparison of nucleic acid content in Balantidium coli trophozoites from different isolates.

Cytophotometric assays were performed on Balantidium coli trophozoites isolated from 30 pigs affected by acute balantidiasis (Group I) and from 30 pigs with symptom-free balantidiasis (Group II). Trophozoites from cultures obtained from Group I and II pig isolates were assayed for comparison. Comparative cytophotometric studies on nucleic acids of B. coli trophozoites isolated from acute and symptomless balantidiasis-affected pigs as well as from in vitro cultured trophozoites showed differences which could have resulted from differences between populations in the trophozoans under investigation.