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Table of Contents > Protozoans > Amoeba > Blastocystis hominis morphology > Blastocystis hominis artifacts

Blastocystis hominis

There is still controversy over speciation and pathogenicity of Blastocystis hominis.


These organisms are now considered to be a protozoan.

 

 

12 Blastocystis hominis - phase contrast x 400
9 B hominis cysts - phase contrast x 400

B. hominis in formalin-fixed wet mount typically shows a spherical cyst-like stage ranging in size from 6-35 mm.

They contain a large central body (resembling a vacuole) with a narrow rim of cytoplasm that contains nuclei.

They tend to be refractile.

22 B hominis - phase contrast microscopy Blastocystis hominis
phase contrast microscopy x 400 		2 B. hominis - phase contrast x 400

 

In trichrome stained fecal smears, the large central bodies take a green colour and the peripheral granules stain red.

Because of their similar size they may be mistaken for amoebic cysts.

55 - B hominis - phase contrast x 400
40 - B. hominis - Trichrome stain

Blastocystis hominis
Trichrome stain x 1000

Blastocystis hominis may display a variety of morphologies.
79 - B. hominis - Trichrome stain x 1000
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