Our workshop at Mansoura University focused on teaching the classic microscopic detection of Cryptosporidium through modified acid-fast staining (such as Ziehl-Neelsen or

Kinyoun). Participants practiced preparing stool samples, applying stains that make the tiny (4–6 μm) oocysts appear bright pink-red against a blue-green background, and scanning

slides under the microscope to identify them accurately. These hands-on sessions emphasized differentiation from yeasts or debris, as staining and microscopy were the main

diagnostic tools before PCR and antigen tests became common. The 2025 workshop continues this essential practical training tradition