DETECTION OF MICROSPORIDIAL SPORES IN FECAL SPECIMENS FROM PATIENTS DIAGNOSED WITH CRYPTOSPORIDIOSIS

Patients infected with Cryptosporidium parvum may have concurrent infe ctions with microsporidia. Two modified trichrome stains and a polyclo nal indirect fluorescent-antibody procedure were used for the detectio n of microsporidia; the Merrifluor Cryptosporidium-Giardia monoclonal direct immunofluorescence detection kit was used for the detection of C. parvum. Formalinized stool specimens from 60 immunocompromised pati ents strongly suspected of having or previously diagnosed with cryptos poridiosis or microsporidiosis were examined. All patients were positi ve for one or both parasites, 18 (30%) with C. parvum only, 25 (42%) w ith microsporidia only, and 17 (28%) with both C. parvum and microspor idia. These findings emphasize the importance of considering both orga nisms as potential causative agents of diarrhea in compromised patient s.