The rapid detection of microsporidia in stool using a new trichrome-methylene blue stain: A preliminary report.

ABSTRACT

The increasing number of HIV-infected patients with intestinal microsporidiosis promt the physician to look for appropriate diagnostic techniques to identify microsporidia. The Weber’s modified trichrome stain has been established as a standard method for detection of microsporidia spores in fecal apecimens. This staninng is practical for routinely diagnosis. However, the original method requires approximately two hours to be completed. The new rapid trichrome-methylene blue technique was therefore developed to reduce the processing time from 120 to 15 minutes. Twenty-two formalinized stool samples known to be positive for microsporidia by transmission electron microscopy and 22 negative control specimens were stained by both original and new modified methods. With these two techniques, the parasitic morphology showed the same characteristic staining pattern, but the trichrome-methylene blue method provided a greater background contrast. The sensitivity and specificity of this modified technique were similar to the Weber’s method and the specificity was equal. This new less time-consuming procedure will be helpful in clinical management.