Diagnosis of blastocystis hominis by different staining techniques

ABSTRACT

150 stool samples were collected from diarrheic patients of different ages and examined for Blastocystis hominis by direct smears and concentrated by Sheather's sugar flotation. Staining was done by Giemsa, 2 modifications of trichrome stain, modified Ziehl-Neelsen, Safranin-methylene blue and 2-auramine stains. Out of the 150 cases, 9 were positive for blastocystosis. The best stains were Safranin- methylene blue and modified Ziehl-Neelsen stains. They had the advantage of staining cysts and amoeboid forms besides being rapid and easy to perform. The modified trichrome stains were less specific and time-consuming. Giemsa stain was not an efficient stain. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy [SEM and TEM] were performed to study the fine ultrastructure