Balantidium coli cyst Balantidium coli trophozoite

Size: 45-65 m Size: 28-152 m in length, 22-123 m wide

Nuclei: Two kinds: 1. Micronucleus spherical Nuclei: Two kinds: 1. Small, spherical micronucleus
- for sexual reproduction 2. Kidney-shaped macronucleus
- may not be observable
2. Macronucleus kidney-shaped Motility: Rotary, thrown ball
- for vegetation and metabolic
process 1-2 visible contractile vacuoles
- present
Layer of cilia around organism
Double cyst wall
Small cytosome present
1-2 visible contractile vacuoles in young cysts

Row of cilia visible in between cyst wall layers

Gardia lamblia cyst Gardia lamblia trophozoite

Size: 8-7 m in length, 6-10 m wide Size: 8-20 m in length, 5-6 m wide

Nuclei: 2 (mature cyst), 4 central karyosomes, no peripheral Shape: pear-shaped, teardrop

chromatin
Motility: falling leaf
Shape: ovoid
Appearance: bilaterally symmetrical, old man with glasses
Cytoplasm: retracted from cell wall
Nuclei: 2 ovoid shape, each with large karyosome, no peripheral
Median bodies: 2 (immature cyst), 4 (mature cyst) chromatin

Interior flagellar structures Twice as many in mature cyst than in 4 pairs flagella: 1 pair anterior, 1 pair posterior, 2 pairs central
Immature cyst extending laterally

2 median bodies
2 axonemes
Ventral sucking disk

Chilomastix mesnili cyst Chilomastix mesnili trophozoite

Size - 5-10 m Size: 5-25 m in length, 5-10 m wide

Nuclei: 1 with large central karyosome, no peripheral chromatin Nuclei: 1 with small central/eccentric karyosome, no peripheral
chromatin
Shape: lemon-shaped with clear hyaline knob extending from
anterior end Shape: pear-shaped

Well-defined cytosome located on one side of nucleus Motility: stiff, rotary, directional; boring screw

4 flagella 3 extending from anterior end, 1 extending posteriorly

From cytosome region

Prominent cytosome extending 1/3-1/2 of body length

Spiral groove
 Trichomonas hominis trophozoite Trichomonas vaginalis trophozoite

Size: 7-20 m in length, 5-18 m wide Size: up to 30 m In length (ave. 8-15)

Nuclei: 1 with small central karyosome, no peripheral chromatin Nuclei: 1 ovoid, nondescript

Shape: pear-shaped Shape: ovoid, round, pear-liked

Motility: nervous, jerky Motility: rapid jerky

3-5 anterior flagella, 1 posterior extending from posterior end of 3-5 anterior flagella, 1 posterior flagella
undulating membrane
Undulating membrane: body length
Undulating membrane: full body length
Prominent axostyle curving around nucleus, granules can be found
Axostyle extends beyond posterior end of body

Conical cytosome cleft in anterior region ventrally located opposite

the undulating membrane

Trichomonas tenax trophozoite Dientamoeba fragilis trophozoite

Size: 5-14 m in length Size: 5-18 m

Nuclei: 1 ovoid, consists of vesicular region filled with chromatin Nuclei: 2 each consisting of massed clumps of 4-8 chromatin
granules granules

Shape: oval, pear-shaped Shape: irregularly round

5 flagella 4 anterior, 1 posterior Motility: progressive, broad hyaline pseudopodia

Undulating membrane 2/3 of body length with accompanying Cytoplasm: bacteria-filled vacuoles common
costa

Thick axostyle curves around nucleus; extends beyond body length

Small anterior cytosome opposite undulating membrane

Endolimax nana cyst Endolimax nana trophozoite

Size: 4-12 m Size: 5-12 m

Nuclei: 1-4 Nuclei: 1

Karyosome: large, blot-like Karyosome: large, irregular, blot-like

Shape: spherical, ovoid, ellipsoid Peripheral chromatin: absent

Peripheral chromatin: absent Motility: sluggish, non-progressive, blunt pseudopod

Cytoplasm: granular, vacuolated Cytoplasm: granular, vacuolated

Inclusions: chromatin granules, nondescript small mass diffuse Inclusion: bacteria

glycogen mass in young cysts

cross eyed cyst

 Iodamoeba butschlii cyst Iodamoeba butschlii trophozoite

Size: 5-22 m Size: 8-22 m

Nuclei: 1 Nuclei: 1

Karyosome: large, eccentric achromatic granules on one side
Peripheral chromatin: absent
Shape: ovoid, ellipsoid triangular, other shape
Cytoplasm: coarsely granular and vacuolated
Inclusion: well-defines glycogen mass, granules may be present
Karyosome: large, usually central, refractive achromatic granules
may be present
Peripheral chromatin: absent
Motility: sluggish, usually progressive
Cytoplasm: coarsely granulated and vacuolated
Inclusion: bacteria, yeast cell, debris

Entamoeba hartmanii cyst Entamoeba hartmanii trophozoite

Size: 5-12 m Size: 5-15 m

Nuclei: 1-4 Nuclei: 1

Karyosome: small and central Karyosome: small and central

Peripheral chromatin: fine and evenly distributed Peripheral chromatin: fine and evenly distributed

Shape: spherical Motility: non progressive, finger-like pseudopods

Cytoplasm: finely granular Cytoplasm: finely granular

Inclusion: chromatoid bars rounded, diffuse glycogen mass in Inclusion: ingested bacteria may be present
young cyst

Entamoeba polecki cyst Entamoeba polecki trophozoite

Size: 10-20 m Size: 8-25 m

Nuclei: 1 Nuclei: 1

Karyosome: small, central Karyosome: small, central

Peripheral chromatin: fine and evenly distributed Peripheral chromatin: fine and evenly distributed

Shape: spherical or oval Motility: sluggish and non progressive normal stool; progressive
and unidirectional diarrheal stool
Cytoplasm: granular

Inclusion: chromatoidal bars angular of pointed ends in young Cytoplasm: granular and vacuolated
cyst, glycogen mass in young cyst
Inclusion: ingested bacteria, other food particles
 Entamoeba histolytica tropozoite Entamoeba histolytica cyst

Size range: 8-65 m Size Range: 8-22 m

Motility: Progressive, finger-like pseudopodia Shape: Spherical to round

Number of nuclei: One Number of Nuclei: One to four

Karyosome: Small and central Karyosome: Small and central

Peripheral chromatin: Fine and evenly distributed Peripheral Chromatin: Fine and evenly distributed

Cytoplasm: Finely granular Cytoplasm: Finely granular

Cytoplasmic inclusions: Ingested red blood cells Cytoplasmic Inclusions: Chromatoid bars, rounded ends in young
cyst, diffuse glycogen mass in young cysts

Acanthamoeba species Cyst: Typical Characteristics Acanthamoeba species Trophozoite: Typical

Characteristics
Size range: 8-25 m

Shape: roundish with ragged edges

Size range: 12-45 m
Number of Nuclei: one
Motility: Sluggish
Karyosome: large and central
Number of Nuclei: One
Peripheral Chromatin: absent
Karyosome: large
Cytoplasm: disorganized, granular, sometimes vacuolated
Peripheral Chromatin: absent
Other features: double cell wall-smooth inner cell wall and outer
jagged cell wall Cytoplasm: granular and vacuolated

Entamoeba coli cyst Entamoeba coli trophozoite

Size range: 8-35 m Size range: 12-55 m

Shape: round to spherical Motility: Nonprogressive, blunt pseudopods

Number of Nuclei: one to eight Number of nuclei: One

Karyosome: large, irregular shape, eccentric Karyosome: Large, irregular shape, eccentric

Peripheral Chromatin: unevenly distributed Peripheral Chromatin: Unevenly distributed

Cytoplasm: coarse and granulated Cytoplasm: Coarse and granulated

Cytoplasmic inclusions: Diffuse glycogen mass present in young Cytoplasmic inclusions: Vacuoles containing bacteria often visible
cysts; may displace a nuclei (often seen in cysts with two nuclei) to
opposite ends of cyst and thin chromatoid bars with pointed to
splintered end sin young cysts
 Entamoeba gingivalis trophozoite Plasmodium vivax

Size range: 8-20 m RBC: Larger than normal, pale

Motility: Active, varying pseudopod appearance Early Trophozoite: Signet - ring form, heavy red clot, blue
cytoplasmic ring
Number of nuclei: One
Older ring: Ameboid nature of rings
Karyosome: centrally located
Large trophozoite: Enlarge RBCs, Schuffners dots
Peripheral Chromatin: fine and evenly distributed
Developing schizont:Chromatin is divided and degrees of separation
Cytoplasm:finely granular Mature schizont: Pigment: 1-2 clumps), 12-24 merozoites

Cytoplasmic inclusions: Leukocytes, epithelial cells, Gametocytes: Depressed, light to pink chromatin
bacteria
Stages in peripheral blood: All stages present

Length of asexual cycle: 48 hours

Plasmodium falciparum Plasmodium knowlesi

RBC: Normal, multiple infection present RBC:Normal

Early Trophozoite: Rings with double chromatic dots Early Trophozoite:Ring form

Older ring: Accole form Older ring:Slightly ameboid and irregular bond forms

Large trophozoite: Multiple rings, Maurers dots Large trophozoite: Bond form and denser cytoplasm

Developing schizont: Not present Developing schizont: Divided nuclear form

Mature schizont: 8-24 merozoites Mature schizont:

Gametocytes: Crescent or banana shaped Gametocytes: Slightly ameboid and irregular bond forms

Stages in peripheral blood: Ring forms and gametocytes Stages in peripheral blood: All stages present

Length of asexual cycle: Less than 48 hours Length of asexual cycle: 24 hours

Plasmodium ovale

RBC: Somewhat larger than normal, with irregular edge

Early Trophozoite: Fimbriated edges

Older ring: Pigment is lighter and enlarged RBC

Large trophozoite: RBC with fimbriated edges, James dots

Developing schizont: Coarse cytoplasm

Mature schizont: Central block of pigment, 8 merozoites

Gametocytes: Coarse cytoplasm - oval shape RBC

Stages in peripheral blood: All stages present

Length of asexual cycle: 48 hours

 Ring-form trophozoite

Ring-form trophozoite Schizont and ring-form trophozoite

Trophozoite Band-form trophozoite