Microsporidians

Enterocytozoon bieneusi. Spores in fecal smear (modified trichrome stain, oil immersion). Even under oil immersion, the small size of the pink-staining spores (1-2 µm) and their frequent presence in small numbers makes them difficult to detect. With this modified stain, most spores are a pinkish-red color; some will appear empty and others may demonstrate a beltlike red strip that encircles the spore equatorially or diagonally.