title: A novel method of combining Periodic Acid Schiff staining with Wright-Giemsa staining to identify the pathogensPenicillium marneffei, Histoplasma capsulatum, MucorandLeishmania donovaniin bone marrow smears.
abstract: Penicillium marneffei, Histoplasma capsulatum, MucorandLeishmania donovanican lead to penicilliosis marneffei, histoplasmosis, mucormycosis and leishmaniasis, respectively, which, to a certain extent, share similar clinical manifestations. These pathogens are approximately the same size, therefore it is relatively difficult to rapidly diagnose the diseases. The aim of the present study was to explore a novel method that attempts to rapidly identify the pathogens of these diseases. In the Wright-Giemsa staining, the four pathogens were approximately the same size and mainly existed in macrophages. The multiplyingP. marneffeihad two nuclei, which were on both sides of the fungus, and had light cross-walls in the middle.H. capsulatumhad a purplish nucleus, which occupied between one-third and one-half of the spore. The cytoplasm was light blue. Peripheral spores were observed in the form of an empty, bright ring without color, like a capsule. Generally,Mucorwere observed to have a long and lightly stained area, which could be easily confused with the Wright staining of dinuclearP. marneffei.L. donovaniexhibited a deep-staining kinetoplast near the nucleus. In the Periodic Acid Schiff (PAS) staining, the pathogens ofP. marneffeiandH. capsulatumwere distinct and stained red. Differentiation betweenP. marneffeiandH. capsulatumrelied on their modes of reproduction:P. marneffeidepends on fission, when the pathogens stretch into sausage-shapes and are split by a cross-wall, whileH. capsulatumdepends on budding so that narrow-necked, single spores can be formed. With PAS staining, the cell walls and intracellular contents ofMucorandL. donovaniwere not stained, lightly stained or granulated and discontinuous. In conclusion, this method, combining PAS and Wright-Giemsa staining, is simple and rapid, and may contribute to the effective identification of the four pathogens.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Lingyan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Ligang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory, People's Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Chunyan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, P.R. China.
authors.forename: X U
authors.initials: XU
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Zheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Wuning
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Mo
keywords: Histoplasma capsulatum; Leishmania donovani; Mucor; Penicillium marneffei; Periodic Acid Schiff staining; Wright-Giemsa staining; bone marrow smear