Assessment of Microscopic Examination and in-Vitro Culture Compared to PCR for Diagnosing Blastocystosis

Blastocystosis is incriminated in chronic gastrointestinal diseases, as irritable bowel syndrome,and colorectal cancer with subtype (ST7) that reduced beneficial intestinal microbiota.This study compared the diagnostic performances of microscopic examination and In-vitroculture compared with RCR as a golden standard. A total of 70 fecal samples were obtainedfrom diarrheic patients attending Pediatric, Gastrointestinal and Oncology Unit Suez Canal UniversityHospitals. Blastocystis was microscopically examined (direct smear, formalin ethylacetateconcentration & trichrome stain) and cultured on Jones' culture medium compared togolden standard PCR using newly-developed primers as a reference technique.The result showed that 8/70 (11.4%) were positive by wet mount microscopy with 19.5% &100% sensitivity and specificity, 15 samples (21.4%) were positive with trichrome stain with36.5% & 100% sensitivity and specificity and 29 samples (70.7%) were positive by Jones' culturemedium with 70.7%, & 100% sensitivity and specificity respectively.