Search by key word or author


  Contributed Papers: Posters
Diagnosis and Epidemiology

 

COMPARISON BETWEEN THE MODIFIED ZIEHL-NEELSEN AND FLUORESCENT ANTIBODY TESTS FOR THE DETECTION OF CRYPTOSPORIDIUM SPP. OOCYSTS IN FAECES


Jacqueline A. Marshalla, Anne Thomasb, *Ralph N. Marshalla and Guy Robinsonb. aParasitology Section, Veterinary Laboratories Agency (Weybridge), Woodham Lane, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 3NB, United Kingdom. bCryptosporidium Reference Laboratory, Singleton Hospital, Swansea, SA2 8QA, United Kingdom.
Corresponding Author: r.n.marshall@vla.defra.gsi.gov.uk

In both human and animal laboratories Cryptosporidium oocysts have for many years been identified in faeces using the modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining method (mZN). Collaborative work between the UK Health Protection Agency (HPA) and the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) has compared this traditional method with the Fluorescent Antibody Test (FAT), which is now considered by the OIE as the “Gold Standard”. Faeces from experimentally Cryptosporidium-infected lambs were examined daily using both methods up to 21 days post infection (pi). Each sample was given a simple score ranging from 0 to 5 depending on the number of oocysts observed and results using both methods were compared. Results indicate that the FAT was more sensitive than the mZN and was able to detect the presence of oocysts 1–2 days pi earlier. Furthermore, it was also possible to detect Cryptosporidium oocysts deep in intestinal tissues of infected animals by the FAT, but not the mZN.

 

back  |  print