Comparative Assessment of Immunohistochemical and Zieh1-Neelsen Stains for Demonstration of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis

ABSTRACT

To obtain a useful method for the identification of mycobacteria in tissue section, we evaluated 118 cases of tuberculosis 48 pulm onary, 14 lymph nodal and 56 synovial tuberculosis. Seventy nine of these cases underwent the culture study. Sections stained with anti-Mycobacterium bovis were compared with the results of the Zieh1-Neelsen stain and culture. The immunohistochemical stain for Mycobacterium bovis in al examined cases was not any more sensitive than the Zieh1-Neelsen stain(p>0.05). Neverthless, the immunohistochemical stain was a useful method for the localization of mycobacteria because of the striking contrast between its background and the wider dimension of a positive area. Immunoreactive areas demonstrated a few intact mycobacteria showing a positive reaction in the Zieh1-Neelsen stain. In conclusion, double staining method using the immunohischemical stain for Mycobacterium bovis and the Zieh1-Neelsen stain is an efficient technique in oder to confirm the diagnosis of tuberculosis.