Which organism appears red after Ziehl-Neelsen staining?

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Multiple Choice

Which organism appears red after Ziehl-Neelsen staining?

Explanation:
Acid-fast organisms resist decolorization in the Ziehl-Neelsen stain and retain the red dye from the primary stain. Mycobacterium has a waxy, mycolic-acid–rich cell wall that traps the stain, so it appears red/pink under the microscope. The other organisms listed lack this acid-fast cell wall, so after the acid-alcohol decolorization they take up the counterstain and appear blue or green, not red.

Acid-fast organisms resist decolorization in the Ziehl-Neelsen stain and retain the red dye from the primary stain. Mycobacterium has a waxy, mycolic-acid–rich cell wall that traps the stain, so it appears red/pink under the microscope. The other organisms listed lack this acid-fast cell wall, so after the acid-alcohol decolorization they take up the counterstain and appear blue or green, not red.

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