Human elements - Polymorphonuclear Leucocytes

Polymorphonuclear Leucocytes
(white blood cells)

Trichrome stain
light microscopy x 1000

Could be confused with E. histolytica amoebic cyst due to similarity in size

Ratio of nuclear material to cytoplasm is 1:1
Entamoeba cyst is 1:2 to 1:3

There are 2-4 nuclear segments in the leucocytes. The narrow chromatin bands joining them may not be visible.

Frequently there is no central mass to be mistaken for a karyosome.

Polymorphonuclear Leucocytes
Phase contrast x400

Polymorphonuclear leucocytes may be seen in dysentery and other inflammatory diseases

They can resemble Entamoeba histolytica cysts.

Nucleus: More coarse, irregular shape and size

Chromatin: unevenly distributed

Cytoplasm: Less dense and slightly less clear than that of amoeba