Opportunistic intestinal protozoa in chronic diarrhoeic immunosuppressed patients

ABSTRACT

The present work aimed to search for the intestinal opportunistic parasites which cause chronic diarrhea. Special stains for each parasite were used to differentiate it easily from the fecal elements obviating the need for diagnostic invasive techniques, especially used in microsporidial infection. The detected parasites were Giardia lamblia [17.7%], as best seen by iron hematoxylin stain and Coccidian oocysts [Cryptosporidia, 13.3% and Isospora belli, 2.2%], as clearly seen by using Ziehl-Neelsen and chromotrope-based stains. The gram positive spores of Enterocytozoon bieneusi were [4.4%] best seen by using chromotrope-based stains; whereas, the diagnosis of Giemsa was failed