Comparison of Eosin and Trypan Blue Staining in Viability of Hydatid Cyst Protoscoleces

The viability assessment in cystic echinococcosis is important for in vitro and in vivo studies and also drug experiments. Variable stains like eosin, methylene blue, Giemsa, Ziehl-Neelsen, Toluidine blue and trypan blue have been used to assess viability of protoscoleces in fertile cysts. In this study, the viability of fertile cysts were analyzed and comparison by trypan blue and eosin staining techniques. A total of 206 sheep and cattle hydatid cyst were examined by two staining techniques. The obtained results were statistically analyzed by ANOVA test. The mean numbers of viable protoscoleces in examined cysts according to eosin and trypan blue staining techniques were The viability of protoscoleces recovered from sheep liver (94% ± 3%) and sheep lung (85% ± 4%) that was higher than those from cattle liver (79% ± 3%) and cattle lung (67% ± 5%). No statistically significant differences were observed among the staining techniques. As a result, it was found that all two staining methods have similar results in viability assessment of hydatid cysts.