Detection of Cryptosporidium in stool samples of immunocompromised patients
K Vanathy1, Subhash Chandra Parija1, Jharna Mandal1
1Department of Microbiology, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry, India.
Insights
Cryptosporidium is the most common enteric parasite in immunocompromised patients. While immunochromatographic test (ICT) is rapid, PCR is more sensitive for Cryptosporidium detection in this population.
Area of Science:
- Medical Parasitology
- Infectious Diseases
- Immunocompromised Host Research
Background:
- Cryptosporidium is a frequent opportunistic enteric parasite in immunocompromised individuals.
- Accurate and early diagnosis is crucial, often relying on rapid tests like immunochromatographic tests (ICT), ELISA, and microscopy.
- Existing diagnostic methods exhibit variable sensitivity and specificity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the intestinal parasitic profile in immunocompromised patients.
- To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the ImmunoCard STAT immunochromatographic test (ICT) for Cryptosporidium spp. detection.
Main Methods:
- A comparative study involving 73 immunocompromised patients and 73 non-immunocompromised individuals.
- Stool samples were analyzed using microscopy, ICT, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
- PCR was designated as the gold standard for Cryptosporidium detection.
Main Results:
- Cryptosporidium was detected in 5.4% of immunocompromised patients, with species including Cryptosporidium parvum and Cryptosporidium hominis.
- PCR identified Cryptosporidium in four samples.
- ICT detected Cryptosporidium in two samples, while microscopy identified it in only one sample.
Conclusions:
- Cryptosporidium was the predominant enteric parasite among the studied immunocompromised patients, followed by Cystoisospora, Entamoeba histolytica, and Strongyloides stercoralis.
- Despite being a rapid test, ICT demonstrated lower sensitivity and higher cost compared to PCR.
- The utility of ICT for Cryptosporidium detection in this setting is limited.
Introduction:
Cryptosporidium species is the most common opportunistic enteric parasite encountered in the immunocompromised patients. Considering the need to diagnose them early relies mostly on rapid tests such as antigen detection by immunochromatographic test (ICT), ELISA, and microscopy. However, the sensitivity and specificity varies with different methods and different kits used. This study was conducted to determine the intestinal parasitic profile in immunocompromised patients and to assess the diagnostic accuracy of the ICT using ImmunoCard STAT kit in detecting Cryptosporidium spp.
Materials And Methods:
The patients in this study were divided into two groups: one group was immunocompromised patients (n = 73) and the other was nonimmunocompromised individuals (n = 73). Stool microscopy, ICT, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were carried out for all stool samples.
Results:
Totally, 4 (5.4%) of 73 patients of the study group were positive for Cryptosporidium. The species detected were Cryptosporidium parvum and Cryptosporidium hominis. PCR was taken as gold standard in the current study. PCR detected Cryptosporidium in four samples while ICT in two samples and microscopy in one sample.
Conclusion:
Cryptosporidium was found to be the most common enteric parasite in the immunocompromised patients studied, followed by Cystoisospora, Entamoeba histolytica, and Strongyloides stercoralis. Although the ICT is a rapid test, it was less sensitive and more expensive in comparison to the PCR; hence, its utility appears to be limited in our setting.
More Related Videos
05:31Studying Cryptosporidium Infection in 3D Tissue-derived Human Organoid Culture Systems by Microinjection
Published on: September 14, 2019
08:23Culture Methods to Determine the Limit of Detection and Survival in Transport Media of Campylobacter Jejuni in Human Fecal Specimens
Published on: March 10, 2020
