SUBPHYLUM SARCODINA: Cyst of Intestinal Amoeba

Nucleus Cytoplasm
Size
Species Shape Peripheral chromatin/linin
*usual range Number Karyosomal chromatin Chromatoidal bodies Glycogen
network
Usually diffuse.
1-4 in mature cyst. Present. Fine, uniform in Small, discrete. Present. Elongated bars Concentrated mass
Entamoeba histolytica/ 10 – 20 µm
Usually spherical 1 -2 occasionally seen in size, and evenly Usually centrally with bluntly rounded ends often present in young
Entamoeba dispar *12 – 15 µm
immature cyst. distributed granules. located. (cigar/sausage/ rod-liked). cyst. Stains reddish
brown with iodine.
1-4 in mature cyst. Present. Elongated bars
5 – 10 µm
Entamoebaharmanni Usually spherical 1 -2 occasionally seen in Similar to E. histolytica Similar to E. histolytica with bluntly rounded ends Similar to E. histolytica
*6 - 8 µm
immature cyst. (bar-like or rice grain).
Present. Less frequently Usually diffuse, but
Usually spherical. 1-8 in mature cyst. Present. Course granules
Large, discrete, usually seen than in Similar to E. occasionally well-
Occasionally Supernucleated cyst irregular in size &
10 - 35 µm eccentrically but histolytica. Usually defined mass in
Entamoeba coli oval, triangular, with 16 or more seen. distribution, but often
*15-25 µm occasionally centrally splinter-like with pointed immature cyst. Stains
or of another 2 or more occasionally appear more uniform
located. ends (broom stick, reddish brown with
shape seen in immature cyst. than in trophozoite.
jagged). iodine.
Occasionally, granules or
Usually diffuse.
small oval masses seen,
Concentrated mass
1-4 in mature cyst. Less Large (blotlike), but bodies as seen in
5 – 10 µm Spherical, ovoid, seen occasionally in
Endolimax nana than 4 rarely seen in None. usually centrally Entamoeba species are
*6 – 8 µm or ellipsoidal young cyst. Stains
immature cyst. located. not seen (comma,
reddish brown with
coccoid, short curved
iodine.
rods).
Large, usually
eccentrally located. Granules occasionally
Ovoid,
Refractile, achromatic present, but chromatoidal Compact, well-defined
5 – 20 µm ellipsoidal,
Iodamoebabutschlii 1 in mature cyst None. granules on one side bodies as seen in mass. Stains dark
*10 – 12 µm triangular, or of
of karyosome. Entamoeba species are brown with iodine.
another shape
Indistinct in iodine not present.
preparations.
SUBPHYLUM SARCODINA: Trophozoite of Intestinal Amoeba
Size Motility Nucleus Cytoplasm
Species *usual range Pseudopod Number Peripheral chromatin Karyosomal chromatin Appearance Inclusion
10 – 60 µm Active, progressive,
Present. Fine, uniform Small, discrete, compact. Fine granular. Ground Erythrocytes (not
*15 – 20 µm (E. directional. One. Not visible in
granules, evenly Usually centrally located glass, clean. If present, present in E.
Entamoeba histolytica/dispar dispar) Hyaline fingerlike or blade unstained
distributed. May be but occasionally vacuoles are very dispar), may
*over 20 µm (E. pseudopod. preparation.
beaded appearance. eccentric. small. contain bacteria
histolytica) Formed rapidly.
Small, discrete, compact
Usually non progressive, One. Not visible in Similar to E. histolytica.
5 – 12 µm often eccentrically
Entamoeba harmanni but may be progressive unstained Darker, solid ring rather Finely granular. Bacteria
*8 - 10 µm located but may be
occasionally. preparation. than beaded.
central.
Present. Course, clumped
Sluggish, non progressive. Large, discrete, usually
One. Often visible granules irregular in size Abundant bacteria,
15 - 50 µm Blunt, usually granular eccentrically. May be Coarse, often
Entamoeba coli in unstained & distribution. Solid, dark yeasts, and other
*20 - 25 µm pseudopod. diffused and darkly vacuolated.
preparation. ring, no beads or clumps. materials.
Formed slowly stained.
Moderately active, with
multiple pseudopods, vary
5 - 20 µm Present. Fine granules, Small, well-defined, Finely granular, Epithelial cells and
Entamoeba gingivalis from long, lobose to short One
*10 - 15 µm closely packed. usually centrally located. vaculated leukocytes
and blunt, often formed
rapidly
Sluggish, usually non
One. Occasionally Large, irregular shaped,
6– 12 µm progressive.
Endolimax nana visible in unstained Usually none. blot like, usually centrally Granular, vacuolated. Bacteria
*8 – 10 µm Hyaline, blunt pseudopod.
preparation. located.
Formed slowly.
Large, usually centrally
Sluggish, usually non
located. Surrounded by
progressive. One. Not usually Coarsely granular,
8 – 20 µm refractile, achromatic Bacteria, yeast, or
Iodamoeba butschlii Hyaline, blunt or fingerlike visible in unstained Usually none. maybe heavily
*12 – 15 µm granules. These granules other materials
pseudopod. preparation. vacuolated.
are often not distinct
Formed slowly.
even in stained slide.

SUBPHYLUM MASTIGOPHORA: Morphology of Trophozoites of Intestinal and Atrial Flagellates

Species Length Shape Motility Number of nuclei Number of flagella Other features
10 – 20 µ𝑚 “falling leaf”, flip- 2; not visible in unstained 4 lateral (2 ventral, 2
Giardia lamblia Pear-shaped Sucking disk occupying ½ to ¾ of ventral surface
*12 – 15 µ𝑚 flop mounts dorsal)
Chilomastix 6 – 24 µ𝑚 1; not visible in unstained 3 anterior; Prominent cytostome extending 1/3 to ½ length of
Pear-shaped Stiff, rotary
mesnili *10 – 15 µ𝑚 mounts 1 in cytostome body. Spiral groove across ventral surface.
Amoeboid. Pseudopodia are 1 or 2. In approximately 40% Karyosome usually in form of cluster of 4-8 granules.
Dientamoeba 5 – 15 µ𝑚 angular, serrated, or broad- organism only 1 nucleus is No peripheral chromatin. Cytoplasm is finely
Sluggish None
fragilis *9 – 15 µ𝑚 lobed and hyaline; almost present. Nuclei not visible in granular, vacuolated, and may contain bacteria.
transparent. unstained mount Organism formerly classified as amoeba.
Pentatrichomonas 8 – 20 µ𝑚 1; not visible in unstained 3 – 5 anterior;
Pear-shaped Rapid, jerking Undulating membrane extending length of body.
hominis *11 – 12 µ𝑚 mount 1 posterior
Undulating membrane extends ½ length of body. No
Trichomonas 7 – 23µ𝑚 1; not visible in unstained 3 – 5 anterior;
Pear-shaped Rapid, jerking free posterior flagellum; does not live in intestinal
vaginalis * 11 – 15 µ𝑚 mount 1 posterior
tract; seen in vaginal smears and urethral discharges.
Undulating membrane extends the length of body.
Trichomonas 1; not visible in unstained 4 anterior;
5 – 12 µ𝑚 Pear-shaped Rapid, jerking Flagellum extends ½ of body length. Axostyle
tenax mount 1 posterior
extends beyond posterior
SUBPHYLUM MASTIGOPHORA: Morphology of Cysts of Intestinal and Atrial Flagellates

Species Length Shape Number of nuclei Other features

Fibrils and flagella oriented longitudinally in cyst with other deep-staining fibrils lying
8 – 19µ𝑚 Usually 4; not distinct in unstained
Giardia lamblia Oval or ellipsoidal laterally or obliquely in lower part of cyst. Cytoplasm often retracted from cyst wall.
*11 – 14µ𝑚 mount. Usually located at one end.
There may also be a “halo” effect around outside of cyst wall in stained smears.
Lemon-shaped, with
6 – 10µ𝑚
Chilomastixmesnili anterior hyaline knob or 1; not visible in unstained mounts Cytostome with supporting fibrils. Usually visible in stained preparation
*7 – 9µ𝑚
“nipple”

Blood and Tissue Flagellates

Morphological stages
Amastigote (leishmanial) Promastigote (leptomonad) Epimastigote (crithidial) Trypomastigote (trypanosomal)

round or ovoid lanceolate more elongated elongated,spindle shaped

nucleus, kinetoplast, and axial filaments are antenuclear kinetoplast, nucleus, flagellum are juxtanuclear kinetoplast, nucleus, flagellum are postnuclear kinetoplast, nucleus, flagellum are
present present present present

intracellular in macrophage of vertebrates midgut and proboscis of the insect vector salivary glands and proboscis of the tsetse fly midgut and feces of the bug vector; blood of
midgut of reduviid bug infected host
Leishmania and T. cruzi Leishmania T. gambiense, T. rhodesiense, T. cruzi Trypanosoma