Determination of Developmental Stages of Cryptosporidium parvum in HCT-8 Cell Culture by Differential Interference Contrast Microscopy, Giemsa and Haematoxylin-Eosin Staining Methods

Abstract

This study aimed to compare the advantages of differential interference contrast microscopy, Giemsa and haematoxylin-eosin staining techniques for detecting, visualizing and distinguishing the developmental stages of Cryptosporidium parvum in cell culture. Data showed that interference contrast microscopy and Giemsa staining have certain advantages, whereas haematoxylin-eosin staining followed by formalin fixation clearly reveals certain changes occurred in the parasite. In the investigations, it was revealed that direct microscopy is effective in accurate definition of meronts and microgamets, but staining methods can differentiate meronts only.