Which stain is commonly used to identify fungal organisms in tissue sections?

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Multiple Choice

Which stain is commonly used to identify fungal organisms in tissue sections?

Explanation:
Stains that highlight the carbohydrate-rich walls of fungi are used to spot fungal elements in tissue. Periodic acid-Schiff binds to polysaccharides in fungal cell walls and turns them a bright magenta, making hyphae and yeasts stand out against the surrounding tissue. That specific visualization is why PAS is the go-to choice for identifying fungal organisms in tissue sections. General stains like hematoxylin and eosin aren’t tuned to highlight fungi and can obscure them, while Gram stain can sometimes label fungi but isn’t as reliable on fixed tissue. Ziehl-Neelsen is designed for acid-fast bacteria, not fungi. In practice, PAS is widely used, often with diastase digestion to avoid glycogen staining, to clearly identify fungal elements.

Stains that highlight the carbohydrate-rich walls of fungi are used to spot fungal elements in tissue. Periodic acid-Schiff binds to polysaccharides in fungal cell walls and turns them a bright magenta, making hyphae and yeasts stand out against the surrounding tissue. That specific visualization is why PAS is the go-to choice for identifying fungal organisms in tissue sections. General stains like hematoxylin and eosin aren’t tuned to highlight fungi and can obscure them, while Gram stain can sometimes label fungi but isn’t as reliable on fixed tissue. Ziehl-Neelsen is designed for acid-fast bacteria, not fungi. In practice, PAS is widely used, often with diastase digestion to avoid glycogen staining, to clearly identify fungal elements.

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