Detection of protozoal parasites in the stools of diarrhoeic patients using different techniques.

A total of 300 children were selected. A total of 180 apparently healthy children were selected. Each child was given a numerical number and subjected to a medical questionnaire. The rate of infection by the enteric protozoa detected by the four techniques revealed that G. lamblia reached 11.0% by concentration-sedimentation method, 10.3% by Sheather's concentration method and 7.0% (cysts) and 1.7% (vegetative) by direct wet smear. E. histolytica was 3.3% & 3.7% by the two concentration methods respectively. By direct wet smear 2.3% (cysts) and 0.7% (vegetative) were detected. E. coli was 7.3% & 7.0% by the two concentration methods respectively. By the direct wet smear 5.0% (cyst) and 0.3% (vegetative) were detected. Modified Zeihl-Nelsen stain demonstrated 9 cases of C. parvum (3.0%). Mallory and Iron haematoxylin gave the good characterristic colour for G. lamblia, E. histolytica, and E. coli followed by Trichrome. It was worthy to mention that direct smear method detected the low infections' percentage of all the intestinal target parasites in comparison with the four staining techniques.