Molluscum contagiosum

This is a high power microscopic view of a section of skin epidermis with a molluscum contagiosum lesion. It shows dark red intranuclear viral inclusions in compact masses. The disease is caused by a DNA pox virus. The viral inclusions have pushed the blue-staining nuclear chromatin to the periphery of the nuclei. To the right, the infected cells are becoming keratinized (they have red cytoplasm), and will be shed. H&E stain. This patient was HIV-positive.