Optical detection of Trypanosoma cruzi in blood samples for diagnosis purpose

Elvio Alanis; Graciela Romero; Liliana Alvarez; Carlos C. Martinez; Miguel A. Basombrio

doi:10.1117/12.589343

21 October 2004 Optical detection of Trypanosoma cruzi in blood samples for diagnosis purpose

Elvio Alanis, Graciela Romero, Liliana Alvarez, Carlos C. Martinez, Miguel A. Basombrio

Proceedings Volume 5622, 5th Iberoamerican Meeting on Optics and 8th Latin American Meeting on Optics, Lasers, and Their Applications; (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.589343
Event: 5th Iberoamerican Meeting on Optics and 8th Latin American Meeting on Optics, Lasers, and Their Applications, 2004, Porlamar, Venezuela

Abstract

An optical method for detection of Trypanosoma Cruzi (T. cruzi) parasites in blood samples of mice infected with Chagas disease is presented. The method is intended for use in human blood, for diagnosis purposes. A thin layer of blood infected by T. cruzi parasites, in small concentrations, is examined in an interferometric microscope in which the images of the vision field are taken by a CCD camera and temporarily stored in the memory of a host computer. The whole sample is scanned displacing the microscope plate by means of step motors driven by the computer. Several consecutive images of the same field are taken and digitally processed by means of image temporal differentiation in order to detect if a parasite is eventually present in the field. Each field of view is processed in the same fashion, until the full area of the sample is covered or until a parasite is detected, in which case an acoustical warning is activated and the corresponding image is displayed permitting the technician to corroborate the result visually. A discussion of the reliability of the method as well as a comparison with other well established techniques are presented.

Citation Download Citation

Elvio Alanis, Graciela Romero, Liliana Alvarez, Carlos C. Martinez, and Miguel A. Basombrio "Optical detection of Trypanosoma cruzi in blood samples for diagnosis purpose", Proc. SPIE 5622, 5th Iberoamerican Meeting on Optics and 8th Latin American Meeting on Optics, Lasers, and Their Applications, (21 October 2004); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.589343

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