Background: Microsporidian protozoa are increasingly recognized as pathogenic organisms related to host immunosuppression.
Case: We report a case of pulmonary microsporidiosis detected in aspirated bronchial material and in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid collected from a 26-year-old, male acquired immunodeficiency syndrome patient presenting pulmonary symptoms and known to have intestinal microsporidiosis. The diagnosis was made on cytologic examination of the material processed according to the Papanicolaou technique, evaluated by Giemsa, Gram's, Grocott and chromotrope-2R modified trichrome preparations and by fungi-fluor fluorescent mycology stain.
Conclusion: Our findings reveal an important fluorescent property of intracellular microsporidian spores, heretofore undescribed in the literature.