Mold spores and pollens come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Shown here is an
Alternaria spore surrounded by amorphous crystals and a few lipid droplets.
Pollen grains are generally round to oval and some have a yellow to brown tint. They are most likely to be confused for parasitic ova. A good knowledge of the actual appearance of the few true parasite eggs that can occur in urine is easier to achieve than specific recognition of all types of pollen and mold spores. Again, optimizing specimen collection and handling will reduce the chances of seeing potentially confusing structures. |
Last Updated: January 16, 1996