title: Comparison of ELISA and Microscopy for detection of Cryptosporidium in stool.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cryptosporidiosis, a diarrheal disease caused by the protozoan parasite Cryptosporidium spp. has become recognized as one of the most common causes of water borne diseases in humans.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare the sensitivity of ELISA and Microscopy for detection of Cryptosporidium in stool samples Materials and Methods: The study was conducted in the Department of Microbiology of PT. B.D. Sharma PGIMS Rohtak, between January 2011 to june 2011 on 50 stool samples, which were processed for detection of cryptosporidial antigen by ELISA and detection of cysts by microscopy (Modified Ziehl and Nelsen staining).
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a prospective study conducted in the Department of Microbiology in PT. BD Sharma, PGIMS, Rohtak, India.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of total, 50 stool samples eighteen (36%) samples were found positive for Cryptosporidium cysts by microscopy in comparison to 3(6%) stool samples which were found positive for cryptosporidial antigen by ELISA. Samples found positive with ELISA were also positive with microscopy. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value for ELISA was 16.7%, 100%, 100% and 68% respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study concludes that stool microscopic Modified acid fast staining is more sensitive method than ELISA for detection of Cryptosporidium in stool samples but the specificity of ELISA was more than microscopy.
authors.affiliation: Senior Resident, Department of Microbiology, Pt. B.D. Sharma PGIMS , Rohtak, Haryana, India .
authors.forename: Seema
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mittal
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Microbiology, Pt. B.D. Sharma PGIMS , Rohtak, Haryana, India .
authors.forename: Madhu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.affiliation: Senior Professor and Head, Department of Microbiology, Pt. B.D. Sharma PGIMS , Rohtak, Haryana, India .
authors.forename: Uma
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Chaudhary
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Microbiology, Pt. B.D. Sharma PGIMS , Rohtak, Haryana, India .
authors.forename: Aparna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yadav
keywords: Cryptosporidium; ELISA; Microscopy