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

Carolyn Doan
Carolyn Doan HT (ASCP)

Define Microorganisms

Microorganisms are living organisms that include bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and viruses. They are so small that they require the aid of a microscope to visualize, sometimes even an electron microscope. Bacteria, fungi, and protozoa can be identified and classified with histochemical procedures, and viruses are generally identified with immunohistochemical procedures.

Introduction to Microorganisms – Bacteria

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

MYCOBACTERIUM TUBERCULOSIS

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.

Kinyouin’s Carbol Fuchsin

The Process

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Kinyouin’s Carbol Fuchsin The Process

The Results

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Kinyouin’s Carbol Fuchsin The Results

The Protocol

Incubation times may vary per manufacturer

1.

Bring slides to water

 

2.

Carbol fuchsin (room temp.)

30 to 60 min

3.

Application of heat to 60c can shorten incubation times

 

4.

Rinse well in running water

5 min

5.

1% HCL acid alcohol (70% alcohol)

10 sec

6.

Rinse well in running water

2 min

7.

Methylene blue to the desired color

30 to 40 sec

8.

Rinse briefly in running water

15 sec

9.

Dehydrate quickly through alcohols

 

10.

Clear and mount

 

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.

MYCOBACTERIUM LEPRAE

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

Fite’s Faraco

The Process

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Fite’s Faraco The Process
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Fite’s Faraco The Process 2

The Results

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Fite’s Faraco The Results

The Protocol

Incubation times may vary per manufacturer.

1.

Dry slides in oven

 

2.

Incubate in a 50/50 mixture of xylene/peanut oil

15 min

3.

Repeat with a second 50/50 mixture

15 min

4.

Blot dry, wash in water, repeat to remove oil

5 min

5.

Fite’s carbol fuchsin (room temp.)

20 min

6.

Rinse well in running water

 

7.

1% HCL/70% alcohol

1 to 5 sec

8.

Rinse in running water

 

9.

Methylene blue

10 to 20 sec

10.

Rinse quickly in running water

 

11.

Blot dry, do not place in alcohols, clear and mount

 

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.

HELICOBACTER PYLORI

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).

Warthin Starry Silver

The Process

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Warthin Starry Silver The Process

The Results

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Warthin Starry Silver 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.

1.

Bring slides to water

 

2.

Rinse in DI water

 

3.

0.5% to 1% silver nitrate – preheated to 65°C

3–5 min

4.

Developer/reducing solution

1–5 min

  • Place slides in Coplin jar containing solution
  • Add Coplin jar to preheated 65°C water bath
  • Incubate until tissue section obtains brownish/gold color
Image
Bacteria_FIGURE_8

5.

Rinse in warm water

2–3 min

6.

Dehydrate in absolute alcohols

 

7.

Clear and mount

Troubleshooting the Warthin Starry silver stain for H. Pylori

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

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

The Process

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Giemsa The Process

The Results 

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Giemsa The Results

The Protocol

          Incubation times may vary per manufacturer guidelines

1.

Dehydrate with 95% Methanol

 

2.

Jenner working solution

10 min

3.

Giemsa working solution

45 min

4.

1% glacial acetic acid water

10 sec

5.

Quick rinse in running water

 

6.

Blot well, clear, and mount

 

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.

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WARTHIN STARRY
WARTHIN STARRY
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GIEMSA
GIEMSA
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IHC IMMUNOHISTOCHEMISTRY
IHC IMMUNOHISTOCHEMISTRY

Introduction to Microorganisms - Fungi

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 neoformanshistoplasma capsulatum, and pneumocystis carinii.

CRYPTOCOCCUS NEOFORMANS

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).

Mucicarmine

The Process

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Mucicarmine The Process

 

The Results

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Mucicarmine The Results

 

The Protocol

Incubation times may vary per manufacturer guidelines

1.

Run slides to water

 

2.

Working Wiegert’s hematoxylin

5–10 min

3.

Rinse in running water

 

4.

Working mucicarmine solution

20–30 min

5.

Rinse in running water

 

6.

Metanil yellow

1–3 min

7.

Rinse briefly in running water

 

8.

Dehydrate, clear, and mount

 

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.

HISTOPLASMA CAPSULATUM

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.

PNEUMOCYSTIS CARINII

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

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

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Gomori’s methenamine silver the process

The Results

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PNEUMOCYSTIS APPEAR AS BLACK BALLS WITH LIGHT GREEN BACKGROUND
PNEUMOCYSTIS APPEAR AS BLACK BALLS WITH LIGHT GREEN BACKGROUND
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HISTOPLASMOSIS WITH GMS
CRYPTOCOCCUS WITH GMS
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HISTOPLASMOSIS WITH GMS
HISTOPLASMOSIS WITH GMS

The Protocol

1.

Bring slides to water

 

2.

Oxidize in chromic acid

10 min

3.

Rinse well in running water

3 min

4.

Sodium bisulfite

1 min

5.

Rinse in running water

 

6.

Incubate in methenamine silver solution at 60c.

10 – 20 min

7.

Incubation time is determined by rate of impregnation

 

8.

Rinse in DI water

 

9.

Gold chloride

1 – 2 min

10.

Rinse in running water

 

11.

Sodium thiosulfate

1 min

12.

Rinse in running water

 

13.

Counterstain in light green

30 - 40 sec

14.

Rinse in running water quickly

 

15.

Dehydrate, clear, and mount

 

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

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GMS for Pneumocystis

About the presenter

Carolyn Doan
Carolyn Doan , HT (ASCP)

Carolyn Doan received her ASCP registration in 1969 after completing classes at Georgia State University and St Joseph school of Histotechnology in Atlanta, Georgia. For 40 years she shared her passion for histology in research (at Yerkes Primate Research Center), in the clinical world (managing the Pathology Department at Florida Hospital in Orlando and serving on the board of the Florida State Licensure Task Force and as president of the Florida State Society for Histotechnology), and in industry (as a Sales executive, Marketing Manager and North American staining sales specialist). Since her retirement in 2013, she founded Creative Histology Consulting.

References

Geoffrey Rolls. “101 Steps to Better Histology – A Practical Guide to Good Histology Practice”. Pathology Leaders/articles

Shaikh, Dr. Imran, “Special Stains in Histopathology.” Kem Hospital, 2012

Ellis, Roy. IMVS Division of Pathology, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woodville Road, South Australia

Wikipedia encyclopedia – Pneumocystis Carinii

Kerr, DA: Improved Warthin Starry Method for Tissue Sections; Am J Clin Pathol; 1938, 8:63-67

Dacie and Lewis, Practical Hematology, 12th edition, 2017

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8173783 - The Identity of Pneumocystis Carinii

Sheehan/Hrapchak. “Theory and Practice of Histotechnology.” Microorganisms. 2nd edition, 13: 233-251

Derm101.com Ackerman, A. Bernard (2000)

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