To evaluate Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) staining using variants of carbol-fuchsin solution, duplicate smears from 416 samples were stained with ZN, one set with 1% basic fuchsin and the other 0.3%. Another set of duplicate smears from 398 samples were stained with ZN, one with 1% basic fuchsin and the other 0.1%. The coded smears were read and discrepancies resolved. All samples underwent mycobacterial ...

Worldwide, laboratory technicians tediously read sputum smears for tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis. We demonstrate proof of principle of an innovative computational algorithm that successfully recognizes Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) stained acid-fast bacilli (AFB) in digital images. Automated, multi-stage, color-based Bayesian segmentation identified possible 'TB objects', removed artifacts by shape comparis...

The present study is a report on the presence of Mycobacterium avium in four birds of the psittaciform order kept as pets. Anatomopathological diagnosis showed lesions suggestive of the agent and presence of alcohol-acid resistant bacilli (AARB) shown by the Ziehl-Neelsen staining. The identification of Mycobacterium avium was performed by means of PRA (PCR Restriction Analysis). DNA was direct...

Tuberculosis continues to cast a huge impact on humanity with its high incidence and mortality, especially in developing countries. For tuberculosis case detection, microscopy continues to be indispensible, given its low cost, rapidity, simplicity of procedure and high specificity. Modifications have attempted to improve the sensitivity of microscopy which include: concentration methods such as...

To optimize Buruli ulcer (BU) microscopic diagnosis, we compared two smear preparation methods from tissue specimens: smears made with tissue suspension after grinding and smears made directly with unground tissue. We also compared two smear staining methods: auramine and Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN). IS 2404-PCR was used as reference method. One hundred and thirty-one surgical tissue specimens from pati...

Many pleural fluid markers have been evaluated for diagnosis of tubercular pleural effusion, but none has been found to be ideal as they lack in sensitivity or specificity, difficulty in performing or difficult availability etc. Some of these markers include serum CA 125, pleural alkaline phosphatase, pleural fluid Procalcitonin concentration, pleural fluid Interleukin-1, pleural tumor necrosis...