CONTEXT: Microsporidia, which causes chronic @entity294 in immunocompromised hosts, are often missed. The commonest diagnostic techniques include @entity3517 ( @entity3517 ) stain; however, it requires expertise and does not identify the species, which is important therapeutically. Other diagnostic techniques include Calcoflour white staining and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Data on comparative utility of different diagnostic techniques are scanty. AIM: Comparison of Calcoflour white, @entity3517 staining and PCR for the diagnosis of @entity24516 . SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Fecal samples of consecutive immunocompromised @entity1 were evaluated for Microsporidia using Calcoflour white, @entity3517 stain and PCR. Species were identified by restriction fragment length polymorphism using HindIII and HinfI. Presence of Microsporidia by two or more techniques was considered true positive. Absence of Microsporidia by all three techniques was taken as true negative. RESULTS: Of 730 @entity1 , Microsporidia was detected in 28 (3.8%), 250 (34.2%) and 30 (4.1%) @entity1 by @entity3517 , Calcoflour white stains and PCR, respectively. @entity16254 was identified in all 30 (4.1%) @entity1 . 30 (4.1%) and 479 (65.6%) @entity1 were true positive and true negative, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity of Calcoflour white, @entity3517 stains and PCR were 100%, 93.8%, 96.8% and 68.5%, 100% and 99.8%, respectively. Diagnostic accuracy of @entity3517 stain and PCR was superior to Calcoflour white (99.6% vs. 69.8%; P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Though Calcoflour white stain is a highly sensitive, but it is nonspecific technique. @entity3517 stain and PCR with high sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy are useful diagnostic techniques. Furthermore, PCR is useful for species identification, which has therapeutic implications.

Comparative evaluation of staining techniques and polymerase chain reaction for diagnosis of @entity24516 in immunocompromised XXXX .

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients'] @entity3517 :: ('MESH:C564098', 'Disease') :: ['modified trichrome', 'MT'] @entity16254 :: ('31281', 'Species') :: ['Enterocytozoon bieneusi'] @entity294 :: ('MESH:D003967', 'Disease') :: ['diarrhoea'] @entity24516 :: ('MESH:D016881', 'Disease') :: ['intestinal microsporidiosis']
@entity1 :: (9606,Species) :: ['patients']
