Pneumocystis carinii is diagnosed by: (A) Sputum examination for trophozoites and cysts under microscope, (B) Culture, (C) Positive serology, (D) Growth on aificial media
Answer is A. Pneumocystis infection - specimen is induced sputum, bronchoalveolar lavage or lung biopsy. On microscopy - trophozoites can be demonstrated by Giemsa , toludine blue, methenamine silver and calcofluor white stain. Ref: Textbook of Microbiology, Ananthanarayan and Paniker; 9th edition