An enzyme immunoassay for detecting Cryptosporidium in faecal and environmental samples.

An enzyme immunoassay (EIA) with a monoclonal antibody to cryptosporidium oocysts was developed and evaluated for the examination of faecal and environmental samples. The EIA was as sensitive as microscopy for detecting Cryptosporidium but also produced some positive results which could not be confirmed by a modified Ziehl-Neelsen technique or by immunofluorescence microscopy. These specimens reacted also with heterologous antibodies in EIA, suggesting false positive results.