Figure 4.

Entamoeba gingivalis cysts but not trophotoites show chitin walls by calcofluor white staining. E. gingivalis cysts were incubated with amoxycillin and metronidazole for 8 days and subsequently stained with Lugol`s iodine and calcofluor white (A-E). E. gingivalis cysts under light microscopy without UV (A, C). The cyst walls show blue fluorescence under UV, indicating the presence of chitin (B, D). As a control, 2 days old E. gingivalis cultures, which were not treated with amoxycillin and metronidazole, were stained with Lugol`s iodine (E) and calcofluor white (F). The trophozoite does not show blue fluorescence under UV, indicating absence of chitin. Scale bar = 10 µm.