Special Stains – Which One, Why and How? Part III: Microorganisms – Bacteria and Fungi

Microorganisms consist of single-celled organisms a few micro millimeters in size. Three that are common to humans are mycobacterium tuberculosis, mycobacterium leprae, and helicobacter pylori.

Causes tuberculosis, is non-motile and rod-shaped, and is characterized and identified by a property known as "acid-fast" meaning that once absorbed, the dye used to stain the bacilli should not be removed when incubated in an acid rinse. The preferred method of identification is an AFB stain, otherwise called an acid-fast bacteria stain.

Mycolic acid is the mechanism responsible for the acid-fast property. The walls of the bacteria produce this waxy substance called mycolic acid. This acid links with substances within the cell walls of the bacteria, making them resistant to decolorization with acid alcohol treatment. The most common choices of AFB stains are Kinyouin’s carbol fuchsin or Ziehl-Neelsen carbol fuchsin. The solutions, procedures, and results are similar for both.

The Process

The Results

The Protocol

Incubation times may vary per manufacturer

Troubleshooting the AFB stain:

It is very important to rinse well after carbol fuchsin to remove excess solution. Make sure the water level covers the entire slide all the way over the top. Residual stain can streak through the tissue muddying the results. Decolorization will occur quickly. Incubate in HCL/70% EtOH to the point that the glass slide is clean, and the tissue looks slightly pink. After decolorization, run in water, washing very well, making sure not to leave any acid/EtOH on the slide. With methylene blue, less is more. If you overstain in this counterstain, the AFB bacilli can be masked. There is a fine line between too much methylene blue and too little. If there is too much, it may not readily wash out and mask the bacilli. If there is too little, it may all wash out, leaving no contrast. Trial and error and experience is the best answer.

As stated above, methylene blue may wash out quickly in alcohols, so make sure to start with 100% for dehydration and run slides quickly through 2 changes just to remove water from the slide.

causes leprosy, has acid-fast properties similar to M. Tuberculosis but much less effective. The preferred stain for demonstration is Fite’s Faraco.

The Process

The Results

The Protocol

Incubation times may vary per manufacturer.

Troubleshooting the Fite's – Faraco:

If slides are accidentally placed in xylene and alcohols per a normal dewaxing protocol, cut fresh slides and start over. Follow the same guidelines as the Kinyouin’s carbol fuchsin for best results.

is spiral-shaped and is associated with gastric inflammation, peptic ulcers, and gastric carcinoma. They have argyrophilic properties and cannot absorb or reduce silver. The preferred stains for demonstration are Warthin Starry silver or one of many modifications, Giemsa, and immunohistochemistry procedures (most sensitive).

The Process

The Results

The Protocol

Incubation times may vary per manufacturer guidelines

Note: the Warthin Starry silver stain is used to demonstrate many varied microorganisms, not just H. Pylori. For this reason, you may find protocols that vary from the protocol specific for H. Pylori below.

• Place slides in Coplin jar containing solution
• Add Coplin jar to preheated 65°C water bath
• Incubate until tissue section obtains brownish/gold color

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Troubleshooting the Warthin Starry silver stain for H. Pylori:

The Warthin Starry can be a difficult stain to master. Make sure to follow all manufacturer’s directions for mixing solutions. Use clean glassware and DI water when called for. Preheating a water bath for the silver and developer/reducer is important. Silver should be at 65°C when slides are loaded. As the developer/reducer warms, the tissue will start to develop a gold-brown color when nearing completion. Agitation in the developer/reducer solution will create a more evenly stained slide.

Note: Microwave heating can be substituted for water bath heating. Times should be adjusted.

Giemsa is a polychromatic stain made up of dyes with different hues.

The Process

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The Results 

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The Protocol

          Incubation times may vary per manufacturer guidelines

Troubleshooting the Jenner-Giemsa for H. Pylori:

Jenner and Giemsa are two very unstable solutions and should be made fresh for each use. Filter both before using. The glacial acetic step is critical. Staining too short will cause poor differentiation in the cells. Staining too long will wipe out most of the staining. Blot instead of dehydrating through alcohols as all the blue in the h. Pylori will wash out.

A comparison of three procedures for demonstration of H. Pylori.

Fungi consist of both single and multicellular organisms with distinct nuclei and cell walls. Three common fungi known to cause diseases in humans are cryptococcus neoformans, histoplasma capsulatum, and pneumocystis carinii.

Lives in the environment throughout the world and can cause meningitis in humans. Infections usually occur in immunocompromised individuals. Capsules are clearly demonstrated by the mucicarmine stain as well as by a methenamine silver procedure (see process below).

The Process

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The Results

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The Protocol

Incubation times may vary per manufacturer guidelines

Troubleshooting the Mucicarmine stain:

Follow manufacturer’s instructions for making working mucicarmine. Remember to dilute according to instructions and use appropriate water for dilution (distilled vs. tap). Use fresh Wiegert’s. If your Wiegert’s is not purple but more brownish, it has broken down and your nuclei will not stain properly. Working Wiegert’s might last a full day but normally not overnight.

causes histoplasmosis. Infection occurs from breathing in these spores, which results in flu-like symptoms. If left untreated, it can disseminate throughout the body and cause death. It is more common in immunocompromised patients. It can be demonstrated by the Gomori’s methenamine silver stain.

was previously classified as protozoa but is now considered a fungus-based on nucleic acid and biochemical analysis. It can lead to a fatal pneumonia in immunosuppressed patients. It can be demonstrated by the Gomori’s methenamine silver stain.

Gomori’s methenamine silver relies on cells that have an argentaffin property. It can reduce invisible silver ions to visible metallic silver without an external aid and is opposite of argyrophilic as seen in H. Pylori.

The Process

The Results

The Protocol

Troubleshooting the GMS:

Chromic acid should be changed often to promote complete oxidation and is dependent on the number of slides run. Keep the vessel closed when not in use. Impregnation times (if done manually) require some trial and error, depending on the heating method used (water bath vs. Microwave oven). Do not overstain with light green as this may mask the organism you wish to demonstrate.

GMS for Pneumocystis