Publicação
Screening of auramine-stained smears of all fecal samples is a rapid and inexpensive way to increase the detection of coccidial infections
| Resumo: | Introduction: Coccidia are important causes of diarrhea that is often indistinguishable from other forms of community-acquired diarrhea. However, the detection of oocysts is often only performed when explicitly requested, as part of the ova and parasite (O&P) examination. Reappraisal and understanding of the accurate staining characteristics of auramine O (AuO), which stains nucleic acids, may permit the inexpensive and reliable identification of coccidian oocysts at routine workup of all fecal samples. Methods: AuO-stained smears were prepared from all stool samples received for stool culture in transport medium (SC) and from concentrated stools received for the ova and parasite (O&P) examination. Results: A total of 3732 samples for stool cultures and 3132 samples for O&P examinations were included. Ninety-one samples (1.3%) from 52 patients yielded Coccidia (45 Cryptosporidium spp and 7 Isospora belli). In seven cases oocysts were only detected in samples sent for stool culture in transport medium. The oocysts showed a typical staining pattern and were easy to recognize. The observation of one smear took only around 30seconds, and the reagents and glass slide for one smear did not exceed US$ 0.03. Conclusions: The screening of all fecal samples with AuO-stained smears is a rapid and inexpensive way to increase the detection of coccidial infections, which in most laboratories can be incorporated into the microscopic workup for mycobacteria. |
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| Autores principais: | Hanscheid, Thomas |
| Outros Autores: | Cristino, José Melo; Salgado, M. J. |
| Assunto: | Coccidia Auramine Rapid screening Cost-effective Feces |
| Ano: | 2008 |
| País: | Portugal |
| Tipo de documento: | artigo |
| Tipo de acesso: | acesso restrito |
| Instituição associada: | Universidade de Lisboa |
| Idioma: | inglês |
| Origem: | Repositório da Universidade de Lisboa |
| Resumo: | Introduction: Coccidia are important causes of diarrhea that is often indistinguishable from other forms of community-acquired diarrhea. However, the detection of oocysts is often only performed when explicitly requested, as part of the ova and parasite (O&P) examination. Reappraisal and understanding of the accurate staining characteristics of auramine O (AuO), which stains nucleic acids, may permit the inexpensive and reliable identification of coccidian oocysts at routine workup of all fecal samples. Methods: AuO-stained smears were prepared from all stool samples received for stool culture in transport medium (SC) and from concentrated stools received for the ova and parasite (O&P) examination. Results: A total of 3732 samples for stool cultures and 3132 samples for O&P examinations were included. Ninety-one samples (1.3%) from 52 patients yielded Coccidia (45 Cryptosporidium spp and 7 Isospora belli). In seven cases oocysts were only detected in samples sent for stool culture in transport medium. The oocysts showed a typical staining pattern and were easy to recognize. The observation of one smear took only around 30seconds, and the reagents and glass slide for one smear did not exceed US$ 0.03. Conclusions: The screening of all fecal samples with AuO-stained smears is a rapid and inexpensive way to increase the detection of coccidial infections, which in most laboratories can be incorporated into the microscopic workup for mycobacteria. |
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