Which condition is identified by Ziehl-Neelsen technique?

Correct option is C

Ans. (c)
Sol. The Ziehl-Neelsen stain is a special acid-fast staining technique used to identify Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium that causes tuberculosis (TB). These bacteria retain the carbol fuchsin dye even after being washed with acid-alcohol, appearing red against a blue background under the microscope.
Explanation of each option:
· (a) Malaria – Diagnosed using blood smear microscopy, not Ziehl-Neelsen stain.
· (b) Syphilis – Diagnosed by serological tests like VDRL or RPR, not by this stain.
· (c) Tuberculosis – Correct answer. Ziehl-Neelsen stain specifically identifies acid-fast bacilli like TB bacteria.
· (d) Typhoid – Diagnosed by Widal test or blood culture, not by this method.