Intestinal parasitic infections in immunosuppressed patients.

Hundred immunosuppressed patients and 50 apparently healthy individuals as control were subjected to stool examination for parasitic infections by the direct smear method and the merthiolate iodine formal-dehyde (MIF) concentration technique. The modified Ziehl-Neelson stain and the aniline carbol methyl violet stain were used to detect Cryptosporidium oocysts. 27 Patients were found positive using the MIF technique while only 13 of them were positive by the direct smear method. Cryptosporidium oocysts were detected in 7 cases using the aniline carbol methl violet stain while only 5 of them were positive by the modified Ziehl-Neelson stain.