Ls. Garcia et al., DETECTION OF MICROSPORIDIAL SPORES IN FECAL SPECIMENS FROM PATIENTS DIAGNOSED WITH CRYPTOSPORIDIOSIS, Journal of clinical microbiology, 32(7), 1994, pp. 1739-1741
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.