An iodine wet-mount of a fecal sample shows a cyst about 25 μm in diameter. Which organism is this cyst most consistent with?

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Multiple Choice

An iodine wet-mount of a fecal sample shows a cyst about 25 μm in diameter. Which organism is this cyst most consistent with?

Explanation:
Cyst size in stool exams is a key way to differentiate Entamoeba species. Among these, Entamoeba coli has the largest cysts, typically around 20–30 μm in diameter (often near 25 μm), while Entamoeba histolytica and Entamoeba dispar cysts are smaller (about 10–20 μm), and Entamoeba hartmanni produces much smaller cysts (roughly 5–12 μm). Seeing a cyst about 25 μm fits Entamoeba coli best. Nonpathogenic Entamoeba coli is distinguished mainly by this larger cyst size, whereas the others tend to be smaller.

Cyst size in stool exams is a key way to differentiate Entamoeba species. Among these, Entamoeba coli has the largest cysts, typically around 20–30 μm in diameter (often near 25 μm), while Entamoeba histolytica and Entamoeba dispar cysts are smaller (about 10–20 μm), and Entamoeba hartmanni produces much smaller cysts (roughly 5–12 μm). Seeing a cyst about 25 μm fits Entamoeba coli best. Nonpathogenic Entamoeba coli is distinguished mainly by this larger cyst size, whereas the others tend to be smaller.

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