title: Comparison of fecal antigen detection using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay with the auramine phenol staining method for diagnosis of human cryptosporidiosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Fecal antigen detection using the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and oocyst detection using auramine phenol (AP) staining methods, are told to be more sensitive compared to other conventional methods, for diagnosis of cryptosporidiosis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to evaluate the antigen-detection capacity in the stool specimens using ELISA and oocyst detection by AP staining methods, for the diagnosis of human cryptosporidiosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 228 fecal samples were collected from residents of rural areas of Hamadan, West of Iran. Each fecal sample was divided into two parts, one kept frozen at -20˚C for Ag-capture ELISA and the other in 10% formalin for the AP staining method. Cryptosporidium Ag-detection ELISA procedure was performed according to the manual of the manufacturer. The preserved samples concentrated using the formalin-ether concentration technique were stained with AP and then investigated under florescent microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eight (3.5%) and three (1.3%) out of 228 fecal samples were positive for Cryptosporidium infection by ELISA and AP staining methods, respectively. Cryptosporidium Ag-detection using ELISA showed an increased frequency of the infection, compared to the AP staining method (P = 0.062).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For epidemiological studies and diagnostic purposes of the Cryptosporidium infection, especially in asymptomatic individuals, Ag-detection ELISA is an easy to perform and accurate method, compared to other conventional microscopic methods.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Rasool
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jafari
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Amir Hossein
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Maghsood
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Marzieh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Safari
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Entomology, School of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Milad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Latifi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fallah
keywords: Auramine phenol; Cryptosporidium; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Oocysts
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