What is it about?
This study was conducted to isolate and genetically identify the Balantidium coli parasite from pig stool and also to evaluate its growth onto four new plant extracts. Roots and leaves of Rhaphanus sativus plant, flowers of Brassica oleracea plant, and bulbs of Allium sativum plant were used for the first time in Iraq as local alternatives to the imported cultivation media, which are known for the growth of parasites. Molecular methods were used for all collected stool samples and then repeated for samples that were succeeded by cultivated methods. The results showed high efficiency in parasite development on the four media and the parasite stage numbers were also varied depending on the type of extracts. The highest rate of parasite numbers was 2450 / ml on the medium of Brassica oleracea extract, while the lowest was 1900 / ml on the medium of Rhaphanus sativus leaves during the four days of incubation in comparison to the parasite numbers on the water agar as a control factor. The percentage of sulfur and organic carbon were also measured for the four extracts and the difference in proportions was compared separately. Flowers of Brassica oleracea plant extract medium was the most efficient medium in improving the growth of B. coli and increasing the number of parasites with a high purity among the four types of experimental cultivation media. The PCR protocol was successfully established and optimized in detecting the B. coli parasite both in the collected pig feces and in culture media.
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Why is it important?
Several previous studies were conducted to obtain a solid medium suitable for the growth of the B. coli in vitro by preparing culture media used for the development of fungi and bacteria, such as Sabourauds agar and Nutrient agar. However, these media were not selective or supportive for the growth of this pathogenic parasite, as they are regular isolation media used for a wide range of microorganisms. Besides, due to the lack of previous studies in Iraq, and the difficulty of providing appropriate means for isolation and identification of B. coli, which may develop dysentery similar to that caused by Entamoeba histolytica and this leads to misdiagnosis. Accordingly, during the current study 4 new solid culture media were prepared from plant sources that showed high efficiency in isolating and growing of the parasite
Perspectives
The idea of this research is to encourage researchers to think outside the box. This will certainly reflect positively on the creation of new research methods far from the old traditional methods, which have become boring and routine as a result of their consumption. In fact, this research is an actual addition to the academic scientific aspect. Can you imagine, if every research paper contains a new innovation, how will the scientific development wheel go??
Dr. Mohammed Hussein Minati
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: New cultivation media for the growth, isolation and morphogenetic identification of Balantidium coli in Iraq, January 2022, American Institute of Physics,
DOI: 10.1063/5.0121090.
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