To ınvestıgate the Cryptosporıdıum ın ımmune suppressed subjects of dıfferent group by usıng Modıfıed acıd-fast paıntıng and ELISA methods

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: One factor of gastroenteritis is Cryptosporidium protozoa genus which are effective in patients with inadequate immunity and particularly in children. It is shown as the causes of water-borne epidemics, because it is resistant to chlorine, can pass interference from drinking water filters, have a high prevalence of parasite in source waters and very small number of parasite can cause infection.In this study, Cryptosporidium sp. antigens were investigated by ELISA method and modified acid-fast staining of Cryptosporidium oocysts were sought in the feaches send to the Medical Microbiology Laboratory of Dicle University Medical Faculty Hospital Diyarbakir from immunocompromised patients at risk group (oncology and dialysis patients, malnourished children) and non-immunocompromised patients in the different age groups have diarrhea. The aim of the study is to make a determination about the situation of cryptosporidiosis, furthermore to compare the methods of ELISA and acid-fast staining and to evaluate the applicability of them.MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this study, fecal samples of oncology (n = 156), dialysis (n=98) and children with malnutrition (n = 21) of the total of 275 patients, immunocompromised and non-immunocompromised patients sent to our laboratory with complaints of gastroenteritis gastroenterology patients (n = 22) and pediatric patients (n = 178) of the total of 200 patients were studied. Stool samples of non-immunocompromised 55 patients have not suffering from diarrhea were send from different clinics was enrolled as a control group in the study. Stool samples of 530 patients of four different age groups were studied. In the study, 1. group 0-5 age, 2. group 6-15 years, 3. group 16-40 age, 4. group people over the age of 40 was created. Stool samples from each studied as macroscopic solid-lamella preparation, modified acid-fast stain and were examined for intestinal parasites and other Cryptosporodium dyeing. In addition, Prospect Cryptosporidium stool samples by ELISA kit (OXOID) and Cryptosporidium sp. antigens were searched.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: In this study, 17% (3. 2) with modified acid-fast staining of Cryptosporidium sp. oocysts in a total of 530 stool samples were detected. Cryptosporidium sp. Oocysts were found at most immune suppressed individuals (70. 5%). In the stool of 31 (5. 8%) patients was detected Cryptosporidium sp. antigen in a total of 530 stool samples by using ELISA method. Most of the positive patients as acid-fast staining method of Cryptosporidium sp. detected by ELISA were immune-suppressed patients over 40 years. The sensitivity of modified acid-fast staining method was 54. 83%, specificity was 100%; both sensitivity and specificity of the ELISA method was found 100%. 61 (11. 5%) of samples include variety of protozoan cysts and in 3 (0. 5%) were seen Hymenolepis nana eggs by using Native-Lugol preparation method. Most parasites group was detected in pediatric group. As a result, ELISA method would be suitable for routine use to investigate Cryptosporidiumun in immune suppressed patients and also in normal patients suffering from gastroenteritis and in the cases of staining methods have been found negative.