The Leishman Stain: A Low-Cost Method for Extra-Intestinal Microsporidia Detection

El Saftawy, Enas A.; Sahloul, Nahla Y. Y.

doi:10.21608/eajbse.2025.453741

The Leishman Stain: A Low-Cost Method for Extra-Intestinal Microsporidia Detection

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Medical Parasitology Departments, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, and AFCM, Cairo, Egypt.

² Microbiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.

10.21608/eajbse.2025.453741

Abstract

Background: Microsporidia are zoonotic, opportunistic intracellular parasites. In disseminated infections, specific, high-cost stains or electron microscopy are compulsory to diagnose these spores. The Leishman staining technique is a routine staining method of biological fluid specimens. The current study aimed to investigate the Leishman staining technique on Microsporidia spores. Method: A cross-sectional observational study conducted in a laboratory unit related to Kasr-Alainy Teaching Hospital, Cairo University, from February 2025 to June 2025. The study involved extraintestinal biological specimens obtained from immunocompromised patients suspected of microsporidiosis
for further evaluation using the Leishman staining technique. Examination of the smears was executed by at least one parasitologist and one microbiologist. Results and discussion: Out of 200 immunocompromised patients, four patients (5%, p=0.0004) revealed the presence of Microsporidia spores. One cerebrospinal fluid sample was obtained from one 4-month-old infant. Three specimens of bronchial lavage were obtained from three adult patients (mean age 70±6years). The spores stained with the Leishman staining technique showed a heterogeneous pattern of staining with an apparent thick wall. Conclusion: Leishman stain is a feasible and cost-effective stain and can discriminate Microsporidia spores. A prospective study on a wider population is recommended. Microsporidiosis should be re-evaluated as a nosocomial infection in immunocompromised patients.

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