Coccidia Partial Acid Fast Stain (Stool)   :  Coccidia screen includes: Cryptosporidium, Cyclospora, and Cystoisospora (Isospora).

Test performed in the Microbiology Laboratory x 65785
Transport immediately to the laboratory within 2 hours.
Coccidia screen includes: Cryptosporidium, Cyclospora, and Cystoisospora (Isospora).
For Cryptosporium screen only: see Cryptosporium antigen send out test.
Indicate any travel history/immunocompromised status on requisition.
 Cryptosporidium and Microsporidium must be ordered separately from Ova and Parasites - they are not included in the O & P screen.   

CRYPT

Cryptosporidium, Cyclospora,Cystoisospora (Isospora) exam / Stool

Partial Acid Fast Stain For Cryptosporidium oocysts, Cyclospora cayetanensis oocysts and Cystoisospora (Isopora) belli Oocysts
(The partial Acid fast stain is not diagnostic for Microsporidia)

Fresh, random feces/stool sample
Duodenal aspirate or contents.
Minimum amount for soft formed stool is a walnut size.

Walnut sized amount (10-20 grams) of  fresh stool in a screw capped specimen container. (tight fitting lid)   

Collect feces from a sterile bedpan.
Place 10-20 grams into a clean container (such as urine cup) with tight fitting lid.
If possible, patient may excrete directly into wide-mouth cup or collection device. 
NEVER take a specimen from the water in a toilet.
Do not allow urine to contaminate the specimen.

Plastic cup, or a plastic-coated cardboard cup or any clean, dry container with a tight fitting lid.

Room Temperature

Contamination with water or urine.
Samples collected after 3 days of hospitalization.

Test performed Sunday through Saturday 6am- 11pm

Within 24 hours

Coccidiosis can be diagnosed by finding oocysts in fecal smears. In early stages of the disease, there may be very few oocysts being shed, and a negative test does not rule out the disease.
Inpatient more than 3 days- Please indicate if patient is immunocomprimised status or has a travel history 
Testing cannot be performed on a swab or stood that is hard formed (rattles in the cup_{)(Bristol scale type 1)}

The Partial Acid fast stain is not diagnostic for Microsporidia.  Microsporidia if requested,  is sent to Quest Diagnostics for
Modified Trichrome stain.
 

POSITIVE: Positive for Cryptosporidium Occysts:and /or  Positive for Cyclospora oocysts and /or   Positive for Cystoisospora oocysts 

NEGATIVE: No Crytosporidium occysts observed, No Isopora Occysts ovserved, No Cyclospora oocysts observed
 

The Coccidia are often associated with foodborne outbreaks and can cuse severe diarhea in both immunocomprimised and immunocompetent hosts. in the earlystages of the infection there may be few occysts shed and detection may rquire more than one stool.    


Cryptosporidium spp. are protozoal parasites that mainly cause enteric illness (e.g., chronic diarrhea) in humans and animals; the parasites have worldwide distribution. The three most common species infecting humans are C. hominis, C. parvus, and C. meleagridis.
Cryptosporidium usually invade the small bowel, but in immunocompromised hosts, the large bowel and extraintestinal sites also are involved. The parasite is transmitted by ingestion of oocysts excreted in the feces of infected animals and humans. The parasite is highly infectious, and has a predilection for the jejunum and terminal ileum. Person-to-person transmission is common in child care centers; infants with cryptosporidiosis-associated diarrhea can infect adults during diapering. Oocysts can contaminate recreational water sources (e.g., swimming pools, lakes) and public water supplies and may persist despite standard chlorination. Outbreaks have been associated with ingestion of contaminated drinking water in large metropolitan areas that have chlorination but not filtration systems and with public swimming pools. Foodborne and person-to-person spread have been documented. Cryptosporidiosis also occurs among international travelers. In industrialized countries, the prevalence of cryptosporidiosis among children is usually considered to range from 3.0% to 3.6%, it is reported more frequently among children in developing countries. Before the advent of effective antiretroviral therapy, cryptosporidiosis was diagnosed primarily in patients with advanced HIV disease and AIDS. However, the incidence has declined dramatically in areas where HAART became widely available.
Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal illness caused by the microscopic parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis. People can become infected with Cyclospora by consuming food or water contaminated with the parasite. People living or traveling in countries where cyclosporiasis is endemic may be at increased risk for infection. The oocysts are thought to require at least 1–2 weeks in favorable environmental conditions to sporulate and become infective. Therefore, direct person-to-person transmission is unlikely, as is transmission via ingestion of newly contaminated food or water. In the United States, foodborne outbreaks of cyclosporiasis have been linked to various types of imported or domestic fresh produce, such as raspberries, basil, snow peas, mesclun lettuce, and cilantro; no commercially frozen or canned produce has been implicated to date
 
Cystoisosporiasis is an intestinal disease caused by the microscopic parasite Cystoisospora belli. This is the same parasite that used to be called Isospora belli. The parasite can be spread by ingesting food or water that was contaminated with feces (stool) from an infected person. Cystoisospora can be found worldwide. It is most common in tropical and subtropical areas. The most common symptom is watery diarrhea. Other symptoms can include abdominal pain, cramps, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and fever. If untreated, people with weak immune systems, such as people with AIDS, may be at higher risk for severe or prolonged illness.