The Warthin–Starry stain (WS) is a

silver nitrate Silver nitrate is an inorganic compound with chemical formula . It is a versatile precursor to many other silver compounds, such as those used in photography. It is far less sensitive to light than the halides. It was once called ''lunar causti ...

-based

staining Staining is a technique used to enhance contrast in samples, generally at the Microscope, microscopic level. Stains and dyes are frequently used in histology (microscopic study of biological tissue (biology), tissues), in cytology (microscopic ...

method (a silver stain) used in histology. It was first introduced in 1920 by American pathologists Aldred Scott Warthin (1866–1931) and Allen Chronister Starry (1890–1973), for the detection of

spirochete A spirochaete () or spirochete is a member of the phylum Spirochaetota (also called Spirochaetes ), which contains distinctive diderm (double-membrane) Gram-negative bacteria, most of which have long, helically coiled (corkscrew-shaped or ...

s. It has been considered a standard stain for the detection of spirochetes, and is also used to stain ''

Helicobacter pylori ''Helicobacter pylori'', previously known as ''Campylobacter pylori'', is a gram-negative, Flagellum#bacterial, flagellated, Bacterial cellular morphologies#Helical, helical bacterium. Mutants can have a rod or curved rod shape that exhibits l ...

'', ''

Lawsonia intracellularis ''Lawsonia intracellularis'' is a species of bacterium. It is obligately intracellular and was isolated from intestines of pigs with proliferative enteropathy disease. Pathogenicity '' Lawsonia intracellularis'' is highly pathogenic. The specie ...

'', ''

Microsporidia Microsporidia are a group of spore-forming unicellular parasites. These spores contain an extrusion apparatus that has a coiled polar tube ending in an anchoring disc at the apical part of the spore.Franzen, C. (2005). How do Microsporidia inva ...

'', and

particulate Particulate matter (PM) or particulates are microscopic particles of solid or liquid matter suspended in the air. An ''aerosol'' is a mixture of particulates and air, as opposed to the particulate matter alone, though it is sometimes define ...

s. It is also important for confirmation of ''

Bartonella henselae ''Bartonella henselae'', formerly ''Rochalimæa henselae'', is a bacterium that is the causative agent of cat-scratch disease ( bartonellosis). It primarily infects red blood cells and endothelial cells and is transmitted to humans through scratch ...

'', a causative organism in

cat-scratch disease Cat-scratch disease (CSD) is an infectious disease that most often results from a scratch or bite of a cat. Symptoms typically include a non-painful bump or blister at the site of injury and painful and swollen lymph nodes. People may feel tire ...

. Warthin–Starry stains organisms dark brown to black, and the background light golden brown/golden yellow.

References

External links

* Staining {{Microbiology-stub

See also

References

External links