Entamoeba coli

Commonly found, non-pathogenic commensal species. Trophozoites: 1) measure 15-50 um, generally 20-25 um 2) sluggishly motile on wet mounts 3) nucleus often visible on unstained preparations 4) cytoplasm often vacuolated, may contain bacteria or yeast Cysts: 1) generally spherical,occasionally oval or triangular in shape 2) 10-35 um in diameter, generally 15-25 um 3) mature cysts contain 8 & occasionally 16 nuclei 4) immature cysts (not commonly seen) contain 4 nuclei 5) chromatoid bodies: generally splintered with pointed ends 6) glycogen is generally diffuse

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