alcian-blue and Cryptococcosis

Topics: Adult; Alcian Blue; Bone Marrow Cells; Coloring Agents; Cryptococcosis; Cryptococcus; Female; Humans; Lymphoma, B-Cell; Macrophages; Reticulin

Salivary cryptococcosis was disclosed at autopsy in an AIDS patient with disseminated C. neoformans infection. H & E staining was not suitable to demonstrate the occurrence of C. neoformans in many tissues; Alcian blue gave the best results.

Topics: Adult; AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections; Alcian Blue; Coloring Agents; Cryptococcosis; Cryptococcus neoformans; Humans; Male; Salivary Gland Diseases

Cryptococci react positively with various histochemical stains, including the Fontana-Masson (FM), which stains the cell wall, and mucin stains, such as alcian blue and mucicarmine, which stain the capsule. Combinations of the FM stain with both the alcian blue and mucicarmine stains were performed on paraffin-embedded tissue specimens that were obtained from 15 patients who had culture-proved cryptococcosis. Combined FM-mucicarmine and FM-alcian blue stains were compared with other individual fungal stains. The FM stain, followed by either the mucicarmine or alcian blue stain, distinctively demonstrated both the cell wall and capsule of most organisms. More organisms were recognized in the combined stains than with either stain done individually. No interference between the stains was noted. Combining the FM stain with either of these two mucin stains appears to be helpful for identifying cryptococci.

Topics: Alcian Blue; Carmine; Coloring Agents; Cryptococcosis; Cryptococcus neoformans; Humans; Periodic Acid-Schiff Reaction; Sensitivity and Specificity; Silver Nitrate; Silver Staining; Staining and Labeling