title: Giemsa and Grocott in the recognition of Histoplasma capsulatum in blood smears.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To facilitate the recognition of intracellular yeasts of Histoplasma capsulatum and differentiate it from Leishmania amastigotes and other parasites, using the combination of Giemsa and a rapid modification of Grocott stains to peripheral blood smears in a hematological study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The combination of both stains was applied consecutively (first Grocott and then Giemsa) to previously fixed peripheral blood smears. Microscopy was performed with 400× and 1 000×, the latter using immersion oil.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The yeasts of Histoplasma capsulatum were observed into the cytoplasm of leukocytes as brownish oval elements, with 3-4 µm in diameter.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combination of both techniques is a simple and fast method to facilitate recognition of intracellular yeasts and it is different from intracellular parasitic elements. Moreover, it allows distinguishing the cell elements that are in the microscopic preparations. It may be very helpful in those cases in which the presumptive diagnosis of histoplasmosis has not been established yet and where other more sophisticated methods are not available.
authors: Laboratory of Parasitology, Infectious Diseases Muñiz Hospital, Uspallata 2272, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors: Javier
authors: J
authors: Bava
authors: Alcides
authors: A
authors: Troncoso
mesh_terms: D001399:Azure Stains; D016469:Fungemia; D006658:Histoplasma; D006660:Histoplasmosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D001399:Azure Stains
keywords: HIV; Histoplasmosis; Peripheral blood smear; Visceral leishmaniasis
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