AVALIAÇÃO DA FREQUÊNCIA DE Balantidium coli EM suínos, TRATADORES DE SUÍNOS E PRIMATAS NÃO HUMANOS NO ESTADO DO RIO DE JANEIRO

This paper reports the frequency of Balantidium coli in pig, pig handlers and nonhuman primate working on farms located in different municipalities in the state of Rio de Janeiro. From 2012 to 2014, 104 fecal samples were collected from 52 handlers, 790 fecal samples from pigs and 1,115 from nonhuman primates. All samples were collected free of chemical preservatives and then underwent the following techniques: Faust et al., Sheather modified, Ritchie modified and Lutz, as well as direct examination. Evolutionary forms of B. coli were not detected in the fecal samples from the handlers, but were found in 49.2% of the fecal material from pigs, and in 41.5%. from apes. The absence of balantidiosis in humans, in spite of being in close contact with infected animals, as demonstrated in this study, may be due to the adoption of adequate sanitary measures for handling the animals or even due to human resistance to infection by this parasite.