Answer to Case 726

 Answer to theParasite Case of the Week 726: Microsporidia spores; genus and species not determinedThese small spores stain deep red with the chromotrope 2R method and its modifications. They are oval shaped and often have a darker-staining equatorial band in the middle of the spore. Spores ofEnterocytozoon bieneusiare very small (0.8 to 1.4 micrometers long), whereas other species such asEncephalitozoonspp.,Vittaforma cornea,andAnncaliia algeraeare a little larger. Some (e.g.,Anncaliia) are up to 4 micrometers long and may be mistaken for small years such asHistoplasma capsulatum(especially because they are focally GMS positive!)As Dr. Couturier pointed out, microsporidia are not parasites, but fungi (his words: " Not a parasite LOL Get those buggers off this page and send them to the Mycology lab. 😉) . They are obligate intracellular, unicellular, spore-forming eukaryotic organisms comprising more than 220 genera and 1,700 species.  Microsporidia itself is NOT a genus and should not be italicized.
Source: Creepy Dreadful Wonderful Parasites - Category: Parasitology Source Type: blogs