Species identification of intestinal microsporidia using immunofluorescence antibody assays

The species identification of Enterocytozoon bieneusi and Encephalitozoon intestinalis is only possible using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), molecular techniques and immunofluorescence antibody assays (IFA). In this study, 50 positive and 50 negative fecal specimens for microsporidial spores using the Weber modified trichrome (WMT) staining technique were examined using IFA-MAbs. Of the 100 specimens examined, the microsporidial spores identified by IFA-MAbs were Enterocytozoon bieneusi 42 (75) Encephalitozoon intestinalis 7(12.5) and mixed infections 7 (12.5). The sensitivity and specificity of IFA-MAbs in detecting microsporidial spores were 98 and 86, respectively. The agreement between the WMT staining technique and IFA-MAbs was statistically significant by Kappa statistics (K=0.840; p