Cryptosporidium is one of the agents associated with diarrhoea in human immune deficiency virus patients. C. parvum is the most common parasite causing diarrhoea in immunocompromised patients. Microscopy is the diagnostic reference standard for the detection of the parasite but it is labour extensive and requires experience. A total 100 stool samples of the subjects attending ICTC and diarrhoea cases admitted in the JSS hospital from March – December 2013 were included in the study 50 subjects were HIV positive and 50 subjects were non HIV (including controls). All the samples were subjected to wet mount, Modified ZN staining and ELISA. Out of 100 samples 9(9%) were positive by ELISA, 5(5%) were positive by modified ZN only one sample was positive by all the 3 methods. Along with cryptosporidium other parasites were also detected like Isospora belli,Giradia, Cysts of Blastocystis, Eggs of Hookworm, Entamoeba histolytica. Based on our data ELISA is an useful assay for the diagnosis cryptosporidium in immunocompromised individuals. | Comparative evaluation of microscopy and ELISA in diagnosis of cryptosporidiosis in HIV and non-HIV patients
