Endolimax nana Diagnostic features of trophs in wet preparations –Irregular shape with blunt pseudopods – next slide –Small size: usually 8-10uM similar to E. hartmanii –Non-directional, sluggish motility –Numerous bacteria filled vacuoles – next slide –One indistinct nucleus with NO peripheral chromatin = clear zone where nuclear membrane is present – “ball in socket” appearance (best seen with permanent stain) –Huge dense “blot-like” karyosome (best seen with permanent stain) –Very difficult to differentiate from I.butschlii

Drawing of E. nana troph Irregular shape of E. nana vs other amoeba

Endolimax nana Diagnostic features of cysts in wet preparations –Oval – round shape –Size 5-14uM –One to four small difficult to see nuclei which are often grouped together, sometimes on one end (best seen with iodine or permanent stain) –No chromatoid bars / bodies –Glycogen vacuoles almost never seen

E. nana cysts

E. nana – same features as wet preps Diagnostic features of trophs in permanent stains –Small size with irregular shape blunt pseudopods –Small size, usually 6-8uM similar to E. hartmanii –Numerous bacteria filled vacuoles –One indistinct nucleus with NO peripheral chromatin = clear zone where nuclear membrane is present – “ball in socket” appearance (best seen with permanent stain) –Huge dense “blot-like” karyosome (best seen with permanent stain)

E. nana trophs - trichrome

E. nana – same features as wet preps Diagnostic features of cysts in permanent stains –Oval – round shape –Size 5-14uM –One to four small difficult to see nuclei which are often grouped together, sometimes on one end (best seen with iodine or permanent stain) –No chromatoid bars / bodies

E. nana cysts - trichrome

Iodamoeba butschlii Diagnostic features of troph in wet preparations –Irregular shape with blunt pseudopods –Non-directional sluggish motility –Numerous bacteria filled vacuoles –One indistinct nucleus (best seen with permanent stain) –Huge dense karyosome –vs E. nana: larger – usually 12-15uM other distinguishing characteristics best seen in permanent stain

Drawing of I. butschlii troph