Eosinophils Eosinophils Eosinophils are granulocytes named because of their intense staining with 'eosin'. Under the microscope, eosinophils typically have a bilobed nucleus and contain many basic crystal granules in their cytoplasm. The granules are eosinophil mediators that are toxic to many organisms and also to tissues as in asthma Asthma .
Eosinophils are motile and phagocytic and are particularly active in parasitic infection.
In fact, blood work showing an increase in eosinophils is often caused by parastic diseases. Since parasites aren't very common in Canada, eosinophilia may also be due to allergic disease like asthma, hay fever etc. Ask Dr. Lee .