MICROSPORIDIA: Stained Slides

		This is a routine histologic preparation of intestinal tract tissue stained with Giemsa stain. Note the small dots within some of the cells. These are microsporidian spores undergoing development. Each spore measures about 1-1.5 µm. The intestinal cells will slough off and pass out in the stool; often free spores can be seen in the stool specimen after processing and special staining with modified trichrome stains.