title: The use of Ziehl-Neelsen stain, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and nested polymerase chain reaction in diagnosis of cryptosporidiosis in immuno-competent, -compromised patients.
abstract: In the present study, Cryptosporidium parvum was diagnosed in stool by Z-N stain, ELISA and PCR. The detected cases were 5.3%, 8.3% and 9.6% by the previous three methods, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of the different techniques were evaluated. The Z-N stain showed the lowest sensitivity and accuracy in relation to either ELISA or PCR. Moreover, the study revealed that the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of ELISA detection of Cryptosporidium in relation to detection of DNA in stool by PCR were 84.2%, 96% and 88.8%, respectively. Consequently, PCR showed the best results. From a practical point of view, ELISA is recommended for wide spread use in diagnosis of cryptosporidiosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Egypt.
authors.forename: Atef M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: el-Shazly
authors.forename: Alaa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gabr
authors.forename: Manal S E
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Mahmoud
authors.forename: Sahar S Abdel
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Aziz
authors.forename: Wafaa A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Saleh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016785:Cryptosporidium parvum / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007121:Immunocompetence; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods