Objective: To distinguish between the existence of detached ciliary tufts (DCTs) and the possibility of protozoa in the sputum of asthma patients.
Study design: One hundred six samples of sputum obtained from 97 patients hospitalized with either asthma or other respiratory diseases were examined blindly. The combination of such criteria as movement, absence of basal plate, existence of red granules, positivity for ultraviolet light and Heidenhain's iron hematoxylin stain (for protozoa) was employed to distinguish between DCTs and true protozoa.
Results: The presence of ameboflagellates in sputum has a diagnostic accuracy of 86% in predicting or ruling. out the possibility of acute asthma.
Conclusion: The presence of ameboflagellate forms is closely related to the existence of bronchial asthma, and these result reflect some etiopathogenic significance in asthma.