Title
Mathematical algorithm for the automatic recognition of intestinal parasites
Date Issued
2017
Access level
restricted access
Resource Type
journal article
Publisher(s)
Public Library of Science
Abstract
Parasitic infections are generally diagnosed by professionals trained to recognize the morphological characteristics of the eggs in microscopic images of fecal smears. However, this laboratory diagnosis requires medical specialists which are lacking in many of the areas where these infections are most prevalent. In response to this public health issue, we developed a software based on pattern recognition analysis from microscopi digital images of fecal smears, capable of automatically recognizing and diagnosing common human intestinal parasites. To this end, we selected 229, 124, 217, and 229 objects from microscopic images of fecal smears positive for Taenia sp., Trichuris trichiura, Diphyllobothrium latum, and Fasciola hepatica, respectively. Representative photographs were selected by a parasitologist. We then implemented our algorithm in the open source program SCILAB. The algorithm processes the image by first converting to gray-scale, then applies a fourteen step filtering process, and produces a skeletonized and tri-colored image. The features extracted fall into two general categories: geometric characteristics and brightness descriptions. Individual characteristics were quantified and evaluated with a logistic regression to model their ability to correctly identify each parasite separately. Subsequently, all algorithms were evaluated for false positive cross reactivity with the other parasites studied, excepting Taenia sp. which shares very few morphological characteristics with the others. The principal result showed that our algorithm reached sensitivities between 99.10%-100% and specificities between 98.13%- 98.38% to detect each parasite separately. We did not find any cross-positivity in the algorithms for the three parasites evaluated. In conclusion, the results demonstrated the capacity of our computer algorithm to automatically recognize and diagnose Taenia sp., Trichuris trichiura, Diphyllobothrium latum, and Fasciola hepatica with a high sensitivity and specificity. © 2017 Alva et al.
Volume
12
Issue
4
Number
12
Language
English
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-85017436238
PubMed ID
Source
PLoS ONE
ISSN of the container
1932-6203
Sponsor(s)
This study was funded by CONCYTEC-PROCYT 245–2008 and FINCyT-EQUIP 100–2009. MZ was a grantee of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (OPPOPP1140557).
Sources of information:
Directorio de Producción Científica