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Microsporidiosis
[Anncaliia spp.] [Encephalitozoon cuniculi] [Encephalitozoon hellem] [Encephalitozoon intestinalis (syn. Septata intestinalis)] [Tubulinosema acridophagus]
[Enterocytozoon bieneusi] [Nosema spp.] [Pleistophora sp.] [Trachipleistophora spp.] [Vittaforma corneae (syn. Nosema corneum)]

Electron micrographs of microsporidia.


SEM of Encephalitozoon hellem rupturing from eukaryotic cell. Encephalitozoon intestinalis in sepatated parasitophorous vacuole
A B

A: Scanning electron micrograph showing an eukaryotic cell bursting and releasing spores of Encephalitozoon hellem to the extracellular medium.
B: Electron micrograph of an eukaryotic cell with Encephalitozoon intestinalis spores and developing forms inside a septated parasitophorous vacuole. The vacuole is a characteristic feature of this microsporidian species.

EM of Enterocytozoon bieneusi spore Encephalitozoon intestinalis in sepatated parasitophorous vacuole
C D

C: Electron micrograph of an Enterocytozoon bieneusi spore. Arrows indicate the double rows of polar tubule coils in cross section which characterize a mature E. bieneusi spore.
D: Transmission electron micrograph of E. intestinalis depicting developing forms inside a parasitophorous vacuole (red arrows) with mature spores (black arrows).

SEM of microsporidia with extruded polar tubule TEM of microsporidia with extruded polar tubule
E F

E: Scanning electron micrograph of a microsporidian spore with an extruded polar tubule inserted into a eukaryotic cell. The spore injects the infective sporoplasms through its polar tubule.
F: Transmission electron micrograph of a microsporidian spore with an extruded polar tubule inserted into a eukaryotic cell. The spore injects the infective sporoplasms through its polar tubule. Figure courtesy of Dr. Massimo Scaglia, Laboratory of Clinical Parasitology, Institute of Infectious Diseases, University-IRCCS San Matteo, Pavia, Italy.
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