This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Garcia, L S Articles by Bruckner, D A Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Garcia, L S Articles by Bruckner, D A

Evaluation of intestinal parasite morphology in polyvinyl alcohol preservative: comparison of copper sulfate and mercuric chloride bases for use in Schaudinn fixative.

ABSTRACT

As a result of disposal problems inherent in the use of mercury compounds, many laboratories have considered using copper sulfate as a substitute for mercuric chloride in polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) preservative. The primary use for PVA-preserved specimens is the permanent stained smear, the most important technique for the identification of intestinal protozoa. A comparison of organism recovery and morphology was undertaken with PVA containing either copper sulfate or mercuric chloride base. Paired fecal specimens (417 pairs) were collected and examined with the Formalin-ether concentration and Trichrome stain techniques. Numbers of organisms recovered and helminth egg and protozoan morphology were assessed from the concentration sediment. Morphology, clarity of nuclear and cytoplasmic detail, overall color differences, and the ease or difficulty in detecting organisms in fecal debris were assessed from the permanent stained smear. No significant differences were found in the numbers and morphology of organisms seen in the concentration sediment. However, when the trichrome stain was used, the overall morphology of the intestinal protozoa preserved in PVA with copper sulfate was not equal to that seen with PVA with mercuric chloride. We do not recommend switching from mercuric chloride base to copper sulfate base unless that is the only option available for the preparation of permanent stained smears.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Johnson, E. H., Windsor, J. J., Clark, C. G. (2004). Emerging from Obscurity: Biological, Clinical, and Diagnostic Aspects of Dientamoeba fragilis. Clin. Microbiol. Rev. 17: 553-570 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Fedorko, D. P., Williams, E. C., Nelson, N. A., Calhoun, L. B., Yan, S. S. (2000). Performance of Three Enzyme Immunoassays and Two Direct Fluorescence Assays for Detection of Giardia lamblia in Stool Specimens Preserved in ECOFIX. J. Clin. Microbiol. 38: 2781-2783 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Jensen, B., Kepley, W., Guarner, J., Anderson, K., Anderson, D., Clairmont, J., De l'aune, W., Austin, E. H., Austin, G. E. (2000). Comparison of Polyvinyl Alcohol Fixative with Three Less Hazardous Fixatives for Detection and Identification of Intestinal Parasites. J. Clin. Microbiol. 38: 1592-1598 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Kellogg, J. A., Elder, C. J. (1999). Justification for Use of a Single Trichrome Stain as the Sole Means for Routine Detection of Intestinal Parasites in Concentrated Stool Specimens. J. Clin. Microbiol. 37: 835-837 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Garcia, L. S., Shimizu, R. Y. (1998). Evaluation of Intestinal Protozoan Morphology in Human Fecal Specimens Preserved in EcoFix: Comparison of Wheatley's Trichrome Stain and EcoStain. J. Clin. Microbiol. 36: 1974-1976 [Abstract] [Full Text]