Acanthamoeba sp. – Trophozoites growing on bacterial layer (MGG staining)

France, CHU Poitiers Parasitologie-Mycologie

Trophozoites are usually 20 µm to 50 in length, and oval to triangular in shape when moving. The central nucleus is very apparent, and conctractiles vacuoles may be easily observed iin the cytoplasm of live amoebae. The pseudopodia or “acanthopods” form clear hemispherical lobes, and there are various short filose extensions from the margins of the body.