balantidium

noun

bal·an·tid·i·um ˌbal-ən-ˈtid-ē-əm

capitalized : a genus of large parasitic ciliate protozoans (family Balantidiidae) including one (B. coli) that infests the intestines of some mammals and especially swine and may cause a chronic ulcerative dysentery in humans

plural balantidia -ē-ə : a protozoan of the genus Balantidium

balantidial

-ē-əl

adjective

or balantidic

-ˈtid-ik

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“Balantidium.” Merriam-Webster.com Medical Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/balantidium. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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balantidium

noun

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