[Measurement of morphological parameters of Cryptosporidium muris oocysts by digital image processing technology].

OBJECTIVE

To establish and analyze the morphological parameters of the oocysts of Cryptosporidium muris for defining their morphological change.

METHODS

Oocysts were collected from KM mice (immunodepressed by dexamethasone for 10 days) and examined with modified acid-fast staining. Images of 1 190 oocysts were acquired by photograph system. The length, width, perimeter, area and equivalent diameter of the oocysts were obtained by computer digital image processing system and analyzed by SPSS software (Version 11.0).

RESULT: The average length of the oocysts was 5.93 microm, ranging from 3.36 microm to 8.51 microm in 95% confidence interval of them. The average width was 4.96 microm, ranging from 3.26 microm to 6.66 microm in 95% confidence interval of them. The average perimeter was 18.03 microm and the average area was 16.08 microm2.

CONCLUSION

Data obtained from the computer system are objective and precise, offering scientific foundation for measuring the oocysts and for identifying Cryptosporidium spp.