MICROSPORIDIA: Stained Slides

		This is a fecal specimen stained with the Ryan Modified Trichrome Stain. The pink structures are the microsporidian spores that will measure approximately 1-2µm. They will appear a bit larger in the stool preparation than they will within the tissue. However, this photograph has also been enlarged to show the key characteristic, the polar tubule (polar filament). Note that some of the spores appear to have a horizontal line across the middle of the spore; this is evidence of the polar tubule. The specimen was taken from concentration sediment (centrifugation 10 min at 500 Xg).