Taxonomy: Class Blastocystea
Animal: Blastocystis hominis 3 06.jpg
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Comment:
Blastocystis hominis - vacuolar form (has a central vacuole with 1 - 4 nuclei and 5 - 20 microns wide) EM by Deb Stenzel. This is the form found in culture or passed from the colon and was thought to be the typical form but they are not the forms present in the colon. Unless the specimen is examined fresh or fixed with PVA or formalin immediately on passing, the in vivo forms ( avacuolar, amoeboid and multi- vacuolar forms) will have deteriorated and only the CV or granular forms will be seen in wet preparations, cysts will be missed if a stained smear is not examined due to their small size - 5 microns - light microscopy being the usual way to examine faecal samples.

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