Mathirut MungthinIttisak SubrungruangTawee NaaglorPote AimpunWirote AreekulSaovanee LeelayoovaPhramongkutklao College of MedicineMahidol University2018-06-212018-06-212005-05-01Journal of Medical Microbiology. Vol.54, No.5 (2005), 473-476002226152-s2.0-18044397500https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/16590Stool samples from seven human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-negative and two HIV-positive children with asymptomatic Enterocytozoon bieneusi infections were daily examined to quantify spore shedding using Gram-chromotrope staining under light microscopy. The spore shedding pattern and intensity in these children was variable. Mean spore concentrations in the stool samples from these children ranged from 2.4 × 102 to 1.2 × 105 spores per gram. Light microscopy could detect spores in stool specimens for 9-33 days, while PCR was able to detect E. bieneusi in stool specimens for 3-40 days longer. This suggests that light microscopy may not detect low levels of spore shedding. Considering that the asymptomatic group are a potential source of infection, detection methods with a higher sensitivity should be used. © 2005 SGM.Mahidol UniversityImmunology and MicrobiologyMedicineArticleSCOPUS10.1099/jmm.0.45832-0