Isospora belli in immunosuppressed patients

ABSTRACT

Two hundred diarrhoeic immunosuppressed patients were chosen from the outpatient, inpatient and oncology department of Zagazig University Hospital. Stool samples were taken and concentrated by formol ether and Sheather's sucrose techniques to detect Isospora and other protozoal parasites. Differentiation of the collected protozoal parasites were done by using modified acid fast, Giemsa and Iron haematoxylin stains. Isospora belli was found alone in 13 patients [6.5%] and associated with other protozoa in 10 patients [5%]. The modified acid fast stain after formal in ether concentration was the best method for differentiation of Isospora belli oocyst in stool. In association with diarrhoea, abdominal pain, malaise and flatulence were the main clinical presentation in infected patient. Diarrhoea was watery, chronic [up to 6 months] and of moderate degree [6 - 10 motions/day] in patients aged 20 - 40 years. Mucus and charcot leyden crystals were the main stool characters. For the first time, IFAT was done by using antigen from the pure strain of Eimeria stiedae, [rabbit hepatic coccidiosis], for serological diagnosis of Isospora belli. The specificity of the test was 100% and the sensitivity was 69%