The ultrastructure of cysts of Entamoeba invadens

Abstract

The cyst shows 2 types of vacuoles, the large vacuoles containing food remnants and small vacuoles containing uniformly electron dense material and lying near the cyst wall. The nucleus shows the same characteristics as that of the trophozoite. The glycogen forms around food vacuoles and then condenses into large masses. The glycogen masses are not separated by a membrane from the cytoplasm. The chromatid bodies appear hexagonal on cross section and display a crystalline pattern. On longitudinal section they present a helical appearance.