Investigation of cryptosporidium spp. in diarrheic patients by modified ehrlich-ziehl-neelsen staining, ELISA and immunochromatographic methods

Cryptosporidium spp. are important intracellular, extracytoplasmic protozoans that cause diarrhea both in the developed and developing countries. Especially they can cause diarrhea resulting in death in immunosuppressive people. At this study it is aimed to investigate Cryptosporidium spp. in stool samples from diarrheic patients obtained from adult and pediatric oncology and hematology in Gaziantep University, Medicine Faculty, Sahinbey Education and Research Hospital. Comparing the results obtained from the study it has been investigated that whether ELISA provide contribution to the diagnosis in specific antigen in stool and also the compliance with other methods has been investigated. A total of 94 patients were included in the study. The age of the participants vary between 0-85 years (mean = 34.117 ± 21.208); 39 of the participants were female and 55 were men. In order to investigate Cryptosporidium spp. Modified EZN staining method, ELISA and Immunochromatographic method were used. While 6.4% of the patients determined Cryptosporidium positive with Modified EZN staining method, 4.3% of the patients determined as positive with immunochromatographic method and 7.4% of the patients determined as positive with ELISA. 5 of the 6 patients (83.3%) that determined positive by modified EZN staining method determined as positive with ELISA. In addition 2 of the 88 patients that found as negative by modified EZN staining method, found as positive with ELISA. All of the positive results determined by immunochromatographic method also found as positive with ELISA. In addition 3 of the 90 patients that determined as negative by immunochromatographic method, found as positive with ELISA. As a result of the comparison of modified EZN and ELISA, 1 of 87 negative patients (1.1) found with ELISA determined as positive with modified EZN, and also 6 of 7 patients (75%) that found as positive with ELISA also found as positive with modified EZN. In conclusion, although ELISA which investigates specific antigen in stool samples is a costly method, it has been seen that it is an effective method for problems in diagnosis.