Endolimax nana

Smallest amoeba to infest humans. Pathology: - non pathogenic Laboratory: Trophozoites: 1) measure 6-12 um, generally 8-10 um 2) sluggishly motile on wet mounts 3) nucleus occasionally visible on unstained preparations 4) cytoplasm may contain bacteria Cysts: 1) spherical, ovoid or elliptical in shape 2) 5-10 um in diameter, generally 6-8 um 3) 4 nuclei in mature cysts 4) immature cysts with < 4 nuclei rarely seen 5) glycogen is generally diffuse 6) occasional chromatoid bodies: granules or small ovoid bodies

Properties

KINGDOM: animal PHYLUM: protozoa

References

Clinical Diagnosis & Management by Laboratory Methods, 19th edition, J.B. Henry (ed), W.B. Saunders Co., Philadelphia, PA. 1996, pg 1271, 1273, 1276