Electron microscopy of blastocystis hominis and other diagnostic approaches

This work evaluated light microscopy and culture against conventional PCR in diagnosing Blastocystis hominis in human stool samples, and were studied by scanning and transmission electron microscope. Hundred stool samples were acquired from the Parasitology laboratory of the Medical Research Institute in Alexandria. All samples were subjected to light microscopy, culture and conventional PCR to diagnose B. hominis in human stool samples; subsequently B. hominis obtained from culture media were further studied by scanning and transmission electron microscope. The results showed B. hominis was detected in 52/100 studied stool samples using light microscope, xenic culture showed 65 positive samples, 67 samples were positive by conventional PCR. SEM revealed the outer surface of B. hominis and rosette-shaped dividing oocysts while TEM demonstrated internal structures of the organisms