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PubMed2006

[Study on vascular morphology of integument tissues of the channel area in the leg].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the distribution of the blood vessels in the integument tissue of the channel area of legs. METHODS: The integument tissue of the lower limbs in the 12 cadavers were dissected with macro-and micro-dissection, radiographical technique of systemic artery and technique of image pattern analysis to observe and analyze the origins, branches and anastomoses in the integument tissues along the channels of legs. RESULTS: The distributional density of the blood vessels in the integument tissues of legs along the channel area of the three-yin meridians of the foot, the Gallbladder Meridian, and the Urinary Bladder Meridian was higher than that in the other parts. They formed an obvious nutrient vascular chain on the arteriogram. The distributional density in the channel area of the Stomach Meridian was not obviously increased and the obvious nutrient vascular chain could not be seen. CONCLUSION: An obvious nutrient vascular chain is formed in the integument tissue along the channel area of legs except the Stomach Meridian.

Blood Vessels↗
PubMed1993

[Evidences for the appearance of peripheral activator during the advance of PSM].

Investigation on mechanism underlying the formation of the propagated sensation along meridians (PSM) is one of the important problems in meridian research. In order to interpret the problem more satisfactorily, we had advanced a hypothesis in 1987, that is, 'integration of periphery' and CNS under the domination of substantial process proceeding along the meridians". According to this hypothesis, "periphery" and "central mechanism" are operated as a whole. However, it also emphasized that the peripheral substantial process is the determinant factor in the formation of PSM. And then, is there really a peripheral substantial process, or, in other word, a peripheral activator during the advance of PSM. The afferent discharges were directly led from the superficial branch of radial nerve. Nineteen volunteers with marked PSM were under observation. The preliminary results demonstrated that as PSM, evoked by stimulating Jianyu (LI15) or Ying Xiang Acupoint (LI20), travelled along the course of Large Intestine Meridian to the hand or index finger, the corresponding afferent impulses could be recorded from that nerve branch in a part of experiments. Through a series of control observations, it has been proved that the impulses recorded was not resulted from other responses, but really the afferent impulse discharged by the neuroreceptor apparatus distributing along the meridian, which was activated by certain stimulation. The facts demonstrated that "the peripheral activator" really appeared during the advance of PSM. It is of significance for the investigation on the mechanism underlying the formation of PSM.

Acupuncture Points↗
PubMed1977

Anatomy of interhemispheric connections in the visual system of Boston Siamese and ordinary cats.

In Siamese cats, previous studies have shown that a genetic mutation causes retinogeniculate fibers in each eye which arise from the temporal retina representing the 20 degrees of ipsilateral visual field adjacent to the vertical meridian to cross aberrantly in the optic chiasm, thereby terminating in the wrong lateral geniculate nucleus. The abnormality is expressed subsequently at the level of the visual cortex. This paper presents anatomical evidence that the pattern of commissural visual connections in the "Boston" variety of Siamese cat also is highly abnormal in comparison to that of ordinary cats. The topographical distribution of neurons supplying visual fibers to the splenium of the corpus callosum was studied in Boston Siamese and ordinary cats using the method of retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) following localized cortical injections made through a recording micropipette. In ordinary cats, after an HRP injection at the border between cortical areas 17 and 18, which represents the vertical meridian of the visual field, HRP-labeled cells in areas 17 and 18 of the opposite hemisphere were found only immediately adjacent to the 17-18 border, thus confirming the results of previous investigations. In Boston Siamese cats, the border represents a region in the ipsilateral visual field roughly 20 degrees away from the vertical meridian, and the vertical meridian representation is displaced to sites within areas 17 and 18 proper. When HRP was injected at the 17-18 border, labeled cells in the opposite hemisphere were located well within area 17 near the suprasplenial sulcus, and also well within area 18; few labeled cells were found at the 17-18 border. When an HRP injection was placed at the vertical meridian representation, again few HRP-labeled cells were found at the opposite 17-18 border, but instead most were found in area 17 slightly medial to the border, and in area 18 slightly lateral to it. Thee findings were complemented in an autoradiographic study in which orthograde transport of tritiated proline after a localized cortical injection was used to demonstrate the distribution of callosal terminals. Thus the pattern of callosal connections revealed in Boston Siamese cats, although anatomically different from that of ordinary cats, was nevertheless consistent with the proposal that cortical sites representing similar visual field coordinates in each hemisphere are appropriately interconnected via the corpus callosum. The laminar distribution of callosal connections was examined briefly. Layer III pyramidal cells of areas 17 and 18 supplied the majority of terminals to the opposite 17-18 border. Pyramidal cells of Layers II and VI, and Layer IVa in area 18, made a smaller contribution. In areas 17 and 18, the same cortical layers (II, III, and VI; and IVa in 18) were again the major sites of callosal termination. A clear projection to the base of layer I was also noted. The laminar distribution of callosal connections in ordinary and Boston Siamese cats were not substantially different.

Agenesis of Corpus Callosum↗
PubMed1980

Interhemispheric connections of visual cortex in the owl monkey, Aotus trivirgatus, and the bushbaby, Galago senegalensis.

Anatomical techniques have been used to map within visual cortex th pattern of degenerating axonal terminals produced by surgical section of the splenium of the corpus callosum in the owl monkey, Aotus trivirgatus, and the bushbaby, Galago senegalensis. Previous studies in other species have shown that callosal inputs terminate preferentially in regions where the vertical meridian of the visual field is represented. Such a correspondence can serve as a useful aid for locating the boundaries of visual areas. The goals of this study have been (1) to assess the degree of correspondence between callosal inputs and previously identified vertical meridian representations in the owl monkey and bushbaby, and (2) to gain information from the pattern of callosal inputs concerning the existence and organization of as yet unidentified extrastriate visual areas. In both the owl monkey and the bushbaby, a discrete band of degenerating axonal terminals corresponds precisely to the vertical meridian representation at the V1-V2 border, and a less precise increase in the density of degenerating axonal terminals corresponds to the vertical meridian representation of extrastriate area MT. A well-defined band of degeneration on the ventral surface of the owl monkey's cerebral hemisphere corresponds to a previously unknown vertical meridian representation which is shared by two newly identified extrastriate visual areas. Elsewhere in visual cortex the pattern of callosal connections is more complex. Although this pattern may still reflect visual topography, it is not immediately useful for distinguishing areal boundaries.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

The first cleavage plane and the embryonic axis are determined by separate mechanisms in Xenopus laevis. II. Experimental dissociation by lateral compression of the egg.

In eggs of Xenopus laevis, the meridian of sperm entry (SEP meridian), the direction of subcortical rotation, and the first cleavage furrow have been used to predict, with varying degrees of accuracy, the position of the plane of bilateral symmetry of the embryo. We show here that altering the shape of the uncleaved egg by lateral compression disrupts some of these topographical relationships in a reproducible way. The neural groove, which identifies the embryonic dorsal midline, usually forms at either of the two narrow ends of the compressed egg, regardless of the position of the SEP meridian, whereas the first cleavage furrow divides the compressed egg across its shorter dimension, regardless of the position of the SEP meridian. Thus the positions of the SEP meridian, the cleavage plane, and the embryonic bilateral plane can be completely uncoupled from each other. In contrast, the direction of subcortical rotation is usually parallel to the plane of compression and predicts the position of the neural groove in all cases. Since the direction of subcortical rotation and the plane of bilateral symmetry still correlate under conditions of compression, we conclude that subcortical rotation is the crucial early step in the process of axis specification.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Evaluating the visual field effects of blepharoptosis using automated static perimetry.

BACKGROUND: Quantitation of the effects of blepharoptosis on the visual field has largely been limited to manual kinetic perimetry using a single peripheral isopter. The authors evaluated the visual dysfunction caused by blepharoptosis using automated static full-threshold perimetry. METHODS: A custom static full-threshold 60 degrees test strategy on the Humphrey field analyzer was used to assess the visual fields of 20 volunteers at their normal baseline and after inducing mild and moderately severe blepharoptosis by applying gold weights to the eyelids. Threshold sensitivities were measured at points along the eight principal meridians, separated by 45 degrees, traditionally used to assess visual field impairment. RESULTS: For mild blepharoptosis, essentially all test points along the superior meridian were significantly depressed (P < 0.01), with an increase in slope secondary to greater decreases in sensitivity at more eccentric points. For moderately severe blepharoptosis, depression of the superior meridian was expectedly greater than that seen with mild blepharoptosis. Additionally, depression of the horizontal meridians and to a lesser extent the lower meridians also was noted. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that even mild blepharoptosis may be associated with depression of the superior visual field extending close to fixation. Ophthalmologists should be aware of the effect of blepharoptosis when testing for other ophthalmic or neurologic disorders using automated static perimetry. Full-threshold static perimetry can be used to quantitate the visual field loss associated with blepharoptosis as a means of evaluating visual impairment.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

A prospective evaluation of corneal curvature changes with 3.0- to 3.5-mm corneal tunnel phacoemulsification.

PURPOSE: To document the effects and results of cataract surgery through a corneal tunnel incision centered on the steepest corneal meridian. METHODS: The authors prospectively evaluated their first 172 eyes that received a 3.5-, 3.2-, or 3.0-mm corneal tunnel incision placed on the steepest corneal meridian followed by a plate haptic silicone lens implant. All surgeries were done by the same surgeon, and all eyes have completed a 12-month postoperative period. The keratometric changes were analyzed with the Holladay-Cravy-Koch method. RESULTS: The incision in the vertical meridian produced more meridional flattening and more astigmatic change (0.90 diopter) than the incision in the horizontal meridian (0.60 diopter). Both incisions had good clinical results. Only 3.6% required a suture. Although the 3.0-mm incisions induced less corneal change than the 3.5-mm incisions, the difference was not usually statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Three-plane corneal tunnel incisions placed on the steeper meridian are safe, consistently self-sealing, and rapidly stable; and they produce less than a 1.00-diopter astigmatic change. Vertical incisions produce slightly more astigmatic change and different effects compared with horizontal incisions.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

Improving patient safety using interactive, evidence-based decision support tools.

BACKGROUND: Meridian Health developed interactive protocols using computerized physician order entry (CPOE), providing clinicians with a concurrent clinical decision-support tool that helps increase compliance with evidence-based guidelines. INTERACTIVE DECISION SUPPORT: Guidelines for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) were developed into interactive protocols that prompt the physician to administer aspirin and a beta-blocker at the time of admission to patients who present with suspected AMI but offer the opportunity to document contraindications instead. By March 2005 all three Meridian hospitals had implemented the AMI interactive protocol. Seventeen interactive clinical decision-support protocols are now in use across six categories of care. RESULTS: Compliance rates for the AMI guidelines increased by 10% within two months of implementation and have been at 100% in all months when the interactive protocols have been used. Meridian is also seeing a steady climb in the number of total orders physicians are placing online, increasing as much as 46% at one hospital. DISCUSSION: Meridian physicians now recognize that CPOE is a valuable tool in improving patient safety through its interactive protocols. It has also enabled Meridian to analyze usage patterns as part of its continuous process improvement methodology. CONCLUSION: The use of interactive protocols using CPOE represents an innovative approach to improving patient safety.

Clinical Protocols↗
PubMed2000

Angular change in backscattering of light from the human lens with nuclear cataract.

PURPOSE: To determine how many meridians are needed to optimise detection of lens nuclear opacities in Scheimpflug photography utilising the Nidek EAS-1000 system. METHODS: Ten eyes with nuclear cataract from 10 patients (age 53-83 years) were selected in this study. For each eye, the lens was imaged with the Nidek EAS-1000 system at the 0 degree, 30 degrees, 60 degrees, 90 degrees, 120 degrees and 150 degrees meridians, respectively. The intensity of the backscattering of light within a common lens nuclear area on the lens image was measured. In addition an aqueous suspension of polystyrene spheres was employed as a standard to evaluate the possible angular change caused by the camera system. Analysis of variance and the polynomial regression was used for data analysis. RESULTS: The intensity of the backscattered light differs significantly among meridians. The highest intensity is found at the 90 degrees meridian. The intensity decreases towards the nasal and temporal side. There is also an angular variation caused by the camera system. CONCLUSIONS: There is a regular change in the backscattered light documented by the Nidek EAS-1000 system. It is sufficient to take one meridian to estimate the lens nuclear cataract. The variation in the backscattered light at different angles is caused partly by the variation of the camera.

Aged↗
PubMed1984

Meridional variations of corneal shape.

The corneal shape of 196 eyes was determined by photokeratoscopy and subsequent fitting of a conicoid equation to four individual corneal meridians. This conicoid was found in almost all instances to be ellipsoidal, with the asphericity not varying between meridians. The corneal radius of curvature did vary as expected between meridians. The radii of curvature of these corneal meridians also varied with the age of the subjects, resulting in reduced corneal astigmatism, while the asphericity of each meridian did not vary substantially with age.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Eccentricity perception in the periphery of normal observers and those with retinitis pigmentosa.

The perception of the eccentricity of a suprathreshold light flash (III/4e) presented in a Goldmann perimeter was measured in four ophthalmologically normal observers and three young observers with retinitis pigmentosa (RP). The task was to indicate the perceived distance from central fixation of each light flash by making a mark on a 180-mm line drawn on a sheet of paper. In the center of the line was a hash mark. Observers were instructed that the hash mark should correspond to fixation and the ends of the line to the limits of the visual field. The vertical, horizontal, and both 45 degree oblique meridians were tested. The results showed that: 1. The extent of the field along the tested meridian determined perceived eccentricity, i.e., eccentricity of 45 degrees in the temporal field of normals was perceived as equally eccentric as 30 degrees in the superior field. 2. The central 20 degrees were taken to represent more of the perceptual field than any other 20 degrees. 3. Along a meridian, the eccentricity which extends from fixation to 16% of the way to the field limit along the meridian is perceived as extending to 25% of the field by normal observers. 4. On the other hand, observers with RP reported that along a meridian the eccentricity extending from fixation to 8% of the field limit is perceived as extending to 25% of the field. Kinetic primary with the II/4 target showed no evidence of field constriction in observers with RP. However, losses in sensitivity are evident starting at about 10 degrees. Full field single flash electroretinograms were unrecordable in the observers with RP.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Accommodation causes with-the-rule astigmatism in emmetropes.

PURPOSE: To measure the changes in astigmatism when bilateral emmetropes accommodate. METHODS: Bilateral emmetropes accommodative responses were measured with an improved photorefractometer PR-1100, which measured binocular refraction in all meridians simultaneously as a fixation target was shown in natural space. RESULTS: The accommodative responses in the vertical meridian are greater than those in the horizontal meridian. In the horizontal meridian, the accommodative responses are less than the accommodative stimulus. CONCLUSIONS: When accommodating the majority of bilateral emmetropes show with-the-rule astigmatism and lag of accommodation in the horizontal meridian.

Accommodation, Ocular↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Nuclear and cortical regulation in doublets of Paramecium: II. When and how do two cortical domains reorganize to one?

Homopolar doublets with twofold rotational symmetry were generated in Paramecium tetraurelia and in P. undecaurelia by electrofusion or by arrested conjugation. These doublets underwent a complex cortical reorganization over time, which led to their reversion to singlets. This reorganization involved a reduction in number of ciliary rows, a progressive inactivation and loss of one oral meridian, and a reduction and eventual disappearance of one cortical surface (semicell) situated between the two oral meridians. The intermediate steps of this reorganization included some processes that resemble those previously described in regulating doublets of other ciliates, and others that are peculiar to members of the "P. aurelia" species-group and some of its close relatives. The former included a disappearance of one cortical landmark (a contractile vacuole meridian) and transient appearance of another (a third cytoproct) within the narrower semicell. The latter included a reorganization of the paratene zone and the associated invariant (non-duplicating) region to occupy the entire narrower semicell and a redistribution of zones of most active basal-body proliferation within the opposite, wider semicell. The final steps of reorganization involved anterior displacement, invagination, and resorption of one of the two oral apparatuses and eventual disappearance of the associated oral meridian. An oral meridian deprived of its oral apparatus, either by spontaneous resorption or microsurgical removal, could persist for some time in "incomplete doublets" before regulating to the singlet condition. The phylogenetically widespread events encountered in the regulation of doublets to singlets suggest that Paramecium shares some of the global regulatory properties that are likely to be ancestral in ciliates. The more specific events are probably associated with the complex cytoskeletal architecture of this organism and with the frequent occurrence of autogamy that was described in the preceding study (Prajer et al. 1999).

Animals↗
PubMed1978

The third visual complex of rhesus monkey prestriate cortex.

1. Two independent but neighbouring visual areas, V3 and V3A, sharing a common cytoarchitectural plan, but in each one of which the visual fields are separately represented, have been studied anatomically, functionally, and in combined anatomico-physiological experiments. 2. The properties of single cells in the two areas are so similar, judged by the techniques used in this study, that it is often impossible to tell whether any one penetration was sampling from cells in V3 or V3A. This is especially so if the cells have receptive fields in the lower hemi-quadrants, since the vertical meridian of the lower visual fields is represented along the V3-V3A boundary and since a transition from V3 to V3A along this border is not accompanied by a shift in receptive field positions of cells. 3. Since the visual fields, including the vertical meridian, are separately represented in these two areas, and since regions of vertical meridian representation are callosally connected, a simple and certain method of specifying the boundary between V3 and V3A is to examine the degeneration following section of the callosal splenium. A heavy patch of degeneration then marks the V3-V3A boundary. Within this patch, however, is a sub-patch containing fewer callosal fibres, or none at all. The boundary between V3 and V3A was taken to be at this subpatch. 4. Since the horizontal meridian is represented at the V2-V3 boundary, and since V1 projects to both these areas, sending coarse fibres to V3 and fine fibres to V2, it was found that the boundary between V2 and V3 could be precisely drawn by making a lesion in the horizontal meridian representation in V1 and noting where, in the prestriate cortex, fine fibres give way to coarse ones, without an intervening gap. 5. Double tracer anatomical experiments, in which tritiated proline was injected into V1 of animals whose callosal splenium had been sectioned, showed that whereas V3 receives a direct input from V1, V3A does not. V3A, instead, was found to receive an input from V3. Double tracer anatomical experiments were undertaken to study a possible input from V2 to V3A. Although such experiments did not reveal a direct input from V2 to V3A, they were not entirely conclusive. 6. The vast majority of cells in V3 and V3A were binocularly driven, without obvious monocular preferences. Some cells, however, though responding to stimulation of the individual eyes, summated their responses to binocular stimulation. Others responded only when both eyes were simulataneously stimulated. In any oblique penetration, cells preferring binocular stimulation only occurred either singly or in groups. 7. In an oblique penetration, the shift from a cell responding to binocular stimulation only to one responding equally well to stimulation of either eye was not necessarily accompanied by a shift in orientational preferences, shifts in the former...

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Interhemispheric transfer of visual information in humans: spatial characteristics.

1. The problem of the interhemispheric transfer of visual information in humans has been approached psychophysically, making use of a visual discrimination task that shows a clear left field advantage and is subject to the phenomenon of perceptual learning. 2. For this task (discrimination of complex gratings differing only by the relative spatial phase of their harmonic components) there is a left field advantage and a lack of interhemispheric transfer of learning effects at all spatial frequencies tested for stimuli removed at least 5 deg from either side of the vertical meridian. 3. For stimuli close to the vertical meridian, the left field advantage disappears and there is a complete transfer of learning effects, provided the fundamental spatial frequency is 2 cycles/deg or lower. 4. At higher spatial frequencies the left field advantage is maintained and the learning effects do not transfer from one visual hemifield to the other, even at +/- 0.5 deg from the vertical meridian, unless the contrast is very high. 5. The transfer of learning effects obtained for spatial frequencies of 2 cycles/deg or lower is peculiar to regions placed close to the vertical meridian and symmetrically located on either side of it. No transfer is obtained between non-overlapping regions on the same side of the vertical meridian. 6. These findings are consistent with an interhemispheric transfer of visual information, preferential for low spatial frequencies and high contrasts, in agreement with that found for callosal transfer in the cat (Berardi, Bisti & Maffei, 1987).

Corpus Callosum↗
PubMed2000

Analysis of complement fixation and commercial enzyme immunoassays for detection of antibodies to Mycoplasma pneumoniae in human serum.

The Meridian ImmunoCard (IC), GenBio ImmunoWELL-IgM, and Remel EIA commercial antibody tests are qualitative enzyme immunoassays that detect antibodies to Mycoplasma pneumoniae in serum. These tests were compared to an M. pneumoniae complement fixation (CF) assay, which uses a commercially available antigen component. The Meridian IC and the ImmunoWELL-IgM detect immunoglobulin M (IgM) only; the Remel EIA and the CF test detect both IgM and IgG antibodies. Detection of specific IgM antibody, which appears early in infection, can be, but is not always, indicative of a recent or current infection. Paired serum samples from 64 adult patients with probable M. pneumoniae infection were examined with each of the four tests. Thirty (47%) of the 64 acute-phase sera were IgM positive by Meridian IC, 26 (41%) were positive by Remel EIA, 24 (38%) were positive by CF, and 15 (23%) were positive by ImmunoWELL-IgM. When both the acute- and convalescent-phase serum samples from each patient were examined, 61 (95%) of the 64 patients were positive by CF, 60 patients (94%) were positive by Remel EIA, 52 patients (81%) were IgM positive by the Meridian IC, and 29 patients (45%) were IgM positive by the ImmunoWELL-IgM assay. The Meridian IC was more sensitive than the other tests for early detection of IgM antibodies. However, after examining paired serum samples, we concluded that the detection of IgM alone may not be useful for all cases of mycoplasma infection, especially in an adult population.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Comparison of four commercially available rapid enzyme immunoassays with cytotoxin assay for detection of Clostridium difficile toxin(s) from stool specimens.

Rapid (2.5- to 3.5-h) enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) for the detection of Clostridium difficile toxins have been developed. We report the results of simultaneous testing of 700 fresh stool specimens by the tissue culture cytotoxin assay and four EIAs (Bartels Prima System C. difficile Toxin A EIA, Cambridge Biotech Cytoclone A+B EIA, Meridian Diagnostics Premier C. difficile Toxin A EIA, and TechLab C. difficile Tox-A Test EIA). In cases of disagreement, culturing for toxigenic C. difficile was performed. A total of 61 (8.7%) specimens from 46 patients were positive for C. difficile toxin. The sensitivity of the cytotoxin assay was 87%, and that of culture was 93%. In comparison with the cytotoxin assay results, the sensitivity and specificity of the EIAs were as follows: Bartels, 87 and 96%; Cambridge, 89 and 99%; Meridian, 87 and 98%; and TechLab, 87 and 95%, respectively. In comparison with the cytotoxin assay plus toxigenic culture results, the sensitivity and specificity of the EIAs were as follows: Bartels, 84 and 97%; Cambridge, 85 and 99%; Meridian, 79 and 98%; and TechLab, 80 and 96%, respectively. The EIAs varied in positive predictive values (PPVs). A high PPV was seen with the Cambridge EIA (96%); lower PPVs were seen with the TechLab (64%), Bartels (72%), and Meridian (80%) EIAs because of high false-positive rates. The negative predictive values (98 to 99%) were excellent with all EIAs. Results were indeterminant with 0.3% of the samples by the Meridian EIA and 3% by all the other EIAs. Although the EIAs were less sensitive than the cytotoxin assay, they provide same-day results and may be useful in laboratories without tissue culture facilities.

Bacterial Proteins↗
PubMed1997

Evaluation of nine immunoassay kits (enzyme immunoassay and direct fluorescence) for detection of Giardia lamblia and Cryptosporidium parvum in human fecal specimens.

It is well known that Giardia lamblia and Cryptosporidium parvum can cause severe symptoms in humans, particularly those who are immunologically compromised. Immunoassay procedures offer both increased sensitivity and specificity compared to conventional staining methods. These reagents are also helpful when screening large numbers of patients, particularly in an outbreak situation or when screening patients with minimal symptoms. The data obtained by using 9 diagnostic kits were compared: direct fluorescent-antibody assay (DFA) kits (TechLab Giardia/Crypto IF kit, TechLab Crypto IF kit, and Meridian Merifluor Cryptosporidium/Giardia) and enzyme immunoassay (EIA) kits (Alexon ProSpecT Giardia EZ Microplate Assay, Alexon ProSpecT Cryptosporidium Microplate Assay, Cambridge Giardia lamblia Antigen Microwell ELISA, Meridian Premier Giardia lamblia, Meridian Premier Cryptosporidium, TechLab Giardia CELISA, Trend Giardia lamblia EIA). The test with the Meridian Merifluor Cryptosporidium/Giardia kit was used as the reference method. In various combinations, 60 specimens positive for Giardia, 60 specimens positive for Cryptosporidium, 40 specimens positive for a Giardia-Cryptosporidium mix, and 50 negative fecal specimens were tested. Different species (nine protozoa, three coccidia, one microsporidium, five nematodes, three cestodes, and one trematode) were included in the negative specimens. The sensitivity of EIA for Giardia ranged from 94% (Alexon) to 99% (Trend and Cambridge); the specificity was 100% with all EIA kits tested. The sensitivity of EIA for Cryptosporidium ranged from 98% (Alexon) to 99% (Meridian Premier); specificities were 100%. All DFA results were in agreement, with 100% sensitivity and specificity; however, the TechLab reagents resulted in fluorescence intensity that was generally one level below that seen with the reagents used in the reference method. In addition to sensitivity and specificity, factors such as cost, simplicity, ease of interpretation of results (color, intensity of fluorescence), equipment, available personnel, and number of tests ordered are also important considerations prior to kit selection.

Animals↗