Application of the Ludox-QPS method for estimating ciliate diversity in soil and comparison with direct count and DNA fingerprinting

► The Ludox-QPS method was provided to assess the soil ciliate diversity. ► The Ludox-QPS method obtained higher ciliate cells than the direct count. ► The Ludox-QPS method revealed higher diversity than the DGGE. ► The shrinkage of cell treated with the Ludox-QPS method ranged from 65% to 70%.