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  • Title: Assessment of the conventional detection of fecal Cryptosporidium serpentis oocysts in subclinically infected captive snakes.
    Author: Graczyk TK, Cranfield MR.
    Journal: Vet Res; 1996; 27(2):185-92. PubMed ID: 8721298.
    Abstract:
    Fecal specimens of seven captive snakes naturally subclinically infected with Cryptosporidium serpentis were monitored for 131 days for the presence and concentration of oocysts. Thirty-three of 81 (41%) of the monoclonal antibody positive stools were read as negative (sensitivity 59%) by the acid-fast-stained (AFS) fecal smears. Oocyst concentrations in the false-negative stools ranged between 6.0 x 10(3)/g to 2.5 x 10(4)/g. The experimentally determined concentration-threshold of oocyst detection by AFS fecal smear was 3.0 x 10(4)/g. The stool weights did not conform to a normal distribution; the oocyst concentration was significantly correlated with the stool weight (P < 0.01). Due to this correlation, stools which constituted less than 0.41% of the snake weight were classified as negative by the AFS fecal smears. The AFS fecal smear technique should be used exclusively for the determination of Cryptosporidium-positive snakes, but not for diagnosis of snake negativity for Cryptosporidium; it should be applied only for larger fecal specimens, such as those which constitute more than 0.41% of snake weight. At least five to seven stool samples should be examined by fecal smear in order to determine snake positivity for Cryptosporidium in subclinical infection.
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