Comparison of Chromotrope 2R and Uvitex 2B for the detection of intestinal microsporidial spores in stool specimens of HIV patients attending Nekempte Hospital, West Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND

Intestinal microsporidiosis is the most common cause of chronic diarrhea in HIV/AIDS infected patients. The diagnosis of intestinal microsporidia depends on the detection of the spores by staining either with Chromotrope 2R or with fluorchrome uvitex 2B methods.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the Chromotrope-2R and Uvitex-2B in detecting intestinal microsporidial spores from HIV/ AIDS patients at Nekempte Hospital.

METHODS

A total of 120 single fresh stool samples were collected, and processed by water ether sedimentation method; stained with Uvitex-2B and observed microspridial spore under fluorescent microscope. From same stool samples, smear were prepared and stained with Chromotrope-2R method for the detection of intestinal microsporidial spores using light microscope.

RESULTS

Uvitex 2B detected 5/120 (4.2%) while Chromotrope 2R detected 4/120 (3.3%) and there was no statistical significance difference between the two methods (P>0.05). The sensitivity and specificity of the chromotrope-2R method relative to Uvitex-2B were 80% and 100%, respectively and positive and negative predictive values of Chromotrope-2R relative to the Uvitex 2B were 100% and 99%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Based on its relative simplicity for processing, in terms of low cost materials (light microscopes compared to fluorescent microscopes) and reagents, make Chromotrope-2R to be recommended for diagnosis of microsporiadia infection in peripheral labs. Even though Uvitex-2B is superior, its application in peripheral health facilities is questionable and demanding.