Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-v9fdk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-04T17:39:29.464Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

An analysis of staining methods for the detection of Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts in water-related samples

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 April 2009

H. V. Smith ,
A. McDiarmid ,
A. L. Smith ,
A. R. Hinson  and
R. A. Gilmour
H. V. Smith
Affiliation:
Scottish Parasite Diagnostic Laboratory, Department of Bacteriology, Stobhill General Hospital, Glasgow G21 3UW
A. McDiarmid
Affiliation:
Department of Civil Engineering and Environmental Health, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow DG1 1XN
A. L. Smith
Affiliation:
Scottish Parasite Diagnostic Laboratory, Department of Bacteriology, Stobhill General Hospital, Glasgow G21 3UW
A. R. Hinson
Affiliation:
Scottish Parasite Diagnostic Laboratory, Department of Bacteriology, Stobhill General Hospital, Glasgow G21 3UW
R. A. Gilmour
Affiliation:
Department of Civil Engineering and Environmental Health, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow DG1 1XN
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

The ability of five staining techniques, originally developed for the rapid identification of Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts in faecal samples, to detect oocysts in water and water-related samples was assessed. All the stains used (modified Ziehl Neelsen, auramine-phenol (Lempert), Wright-Giemsa, safranin-methylene blue and FITC-labelled monoclonal antibody) stained oocysts after storage in water for 2 months at 4 °C (71–89 % of control values). Storage of oocysts below 0 °C greatly reduced the staining ability of auramine-phenol. With the exception of oocysts stored in raw and final waters, the histochemical stains proved less useful in detecting oocysts than the monoclonal antibody. Organisms of similar size and shape took up these stains, causing confusion in interpretation. Cold Ziehl Neelsen and the FITC-labelled monoclonal antibody were best at identifying oocysts from a waterborne outbreak. Screening with a fluorescent antibody, followed by confirmation with cold Ziehl Neelsen, where possible, are the currently recommended procedures for the detection of oocysts in water-related samples.

Keywords

Cryptosporidium spp.detectionstaining techniquesoocysts.
Type
Research Article
Information
Parasitology , Volume 99 , Issue 3 , December 1989 , pp. 323 - 327
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1989

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Allen, A. V. H. & Ridley, D. S. (1970). Further observations on the formal-ether concentration technique for faecal parasites. Journal of Clinical Pathology 23, 545–6.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Baxby, D., Blundell, N. & Hart, C. A. (1984). The development and performance of a simple rapid, sensitive method for the detection of Cryptosporidium oocysts in faeces. Journal of Hygiene 93, 317–23.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Casemore, D. P., Armstrong, M. & Sands, R. L. (1985). Laboratory diagnosis of Cryptosporidiosis. Journal of Clinical Pathology 38, 137–1.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Current, W. L. (1987). Cryptosporidium: its biology and potential for environmental transmission. Critical Reviews in Environmental Control 17, 21–51.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fayer, R. & Ungar, B. L. P. (1986). Cryptosporidium spp. and Cryptosporidiosis. Microbiological Reviews 50, 458–83.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hayes, E. B., Matte, T. D., O'Brien, T. R., Mckinlay, T. W., Logsdon, G. S., Rose, J. B., Ungar, B. L., Word, D. M., Pinsky, P. W., Cummings, M. L., Wilson, M. A., Long, E. A., Hurwitz, E. S. & Juranek, D. D. (1989). Contamination of a conventionally treated filtered public water supply by Cryptosporidium associated with a large community outbreak of Cryptosporidiosis. New England Journal of Medicine 320, 1372–6.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jakubowski, W. & Ericksen, T. H. (1984). Methods for detection of Giardia cysts in water supplies. In Waterborne Transmission of Giardiasis (ed. Jakubowski, W. & Hoff, J. C ), Cincinatti, Ohio: United States Environmental Protection Agency, 600/9–79–001. pp. 193–210.Google Scholar
Mclaughlin, J., Casemore, D. P., Harrison, T. B., Gerson, J., Samuel, D. & Taylor, A. G. (1987). Identification of Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts by monoclonal antibodies. Lancet 1, 51.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Musial, C. E., Arrowood, M. J. & Gerba, C. P. (1987). Detection of Cryptosporidium in water using polypropylene cartridge filters. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 53, 687–92.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ongerth, J. E. & Stibbs, H. H. (1987). Identification of Cryptosporidium oocysts in river water. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 53, 672–6.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rose, J. R. (1989). Occurrence and significance of Cryptosporidium in water. Journal of the American Water Works Association 80, 53–8.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rush, B. A., Chapman, P. A. & Ineson, R. W. (1987). Cryptosporidium and drinking water. Lancet 2, 632–3.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Smith, H. V., Girdwood, R. W. A., Patterson, W. J., Hardie, R., Greene, L. A., Benton, C., Tulloch, W., Sharp, J. C. M., & Forbes, G. I. (1988). Waterborne outbreak of cryptosporidiosis. Lancet 2, 1418.Google ScholarPubMed
Tzipori, S., Angus, K. W., Gray, E. W. & Campbell, I. (1980). Vomiting and diarrhea associated with cryptosporidial infection. New England Journal of Medicine 303, 818.Google ScholarPubMed
Woodmansee, D. B. (1987). Studies of in vitro excystation of Cryptosporidium from calves. Journal of Protozoology 34, 398–02.Google ScholarPubMed