To evaluate Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) staining using variants of carbol-fuchsin solution, duplicate smears from 416 samples were stained with ZN, one set with 1% basic fuchsin and the other 0.3%. Another set of duplicate smears from 398 samples were stained with ZN, one with 1% basic fuchsin and the other 0.1%. The coded smears were read and discrepancies resolved. All samples underwent mycobacterial ...

Worldwide, laboratory technicians tediously read sputum smears for tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis. We demonstrate proof of principle of an innovative computational algorithm that successfully recognizes Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) stained acid-fast bacilli (AFB) in digital images. Automated, multi-stage, color-based Bayesian segmentation identified possible 'TB objects', removed artifacts by shape comparis...

1,001 faecal samples were obtained from 89 sheep (lambs and adult), 184 goats, 190 horses, 178 rabbits, 110 camels, 200 broiler chicken and 50 turkeys housed in farms from different localities in Tunisia. All samples were analysed for Cryptosporidium oocysts by microscopic examination of smears stained by modified Ziehl Neelsen technique. The parasite was detected in ten lambs and adult sheep (...

We report a case of Crohn's disease in a 32-year old Saudi male. The disease presented with severe, life-threatening ileal bleeding necessitating an urgent laparotomy and 100 cm of ileum and ascending colon was resected. The bleeding source was several ulcers in an inflamed ileum and histopathologic examination revealed typical findings of Crohn's disease with a chronic, transmural inflammation...

The patient had a two month history of gastrointestinal symptoms. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy disclosed 5 mm nodular lesions were seen in the prepyloric area. On pathological examination, two granulomatous lesions were detected in biopsy specimen. Ehrlich Ziehl-Neelsen staining and cultures of the biopsy material were negative, but polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for Mycobacterium tubercul...

Cytologic diagnosis of mycobacterial infection has conventionally depended on the recognition of granulomatous inflammation with caseous necrosis and the identification of acid-fast bacilli with special stains. Immunocompromised patients however may not mount the expected response. Mycobacteria can be seen as negative images in fine needle aspiration cytologic smears from patients with acquired...

The present study is a report on the presence of Mycobacterium avium in four birds of the psittaciform order kept as pets. Anatomopathological diagnosis showed lesions suggestive of the agent and presence of alcohol-acid resistant bacilli (AARB) shown by the Ziehl-Neelsen staining. The identification of Mycobacterium avium was performed by means of PRA (PCR Restriction Analysis). DNA was direct...

Tuberculosis continues to cast a huge impact on humanity with its high incidence and mortality, especially in developing countries. For tuberculosis case detection, microscopy continues to be indispensible, given its low cost, rapidity, simplicity of procedure and high specificity. Modifications have attempted to improve the sensitivity of microscopy which include: concentration methods such as...

To optimize Buruli ulcer (BU) microscopic diagnosis, we compared two smear preparation methods from tissue specimens: smears made with tissue suspension after grinding and smears made directly with unground tissue. We also compared two smear staining methods: auramine and Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN). IS 2404-PCR was used as reference method. One hundred and thirty-one surgical tissue specimens from pati...

Many pleural fluid markers have been evaluated for diagnosis of tubercular pleural effusion, but none has been found to be ideal as they lack in sensitivity or specificity, difficulty in performing or difficult availability etc. Some of these markers include serum CA 125, pleural alkaline phosphatase, pleural fluid Procalcitonin concentration, pleural fluid Interleukin-1, pleural tumor necrosis...