Investigation of a novel approach to scoring Giemsa-stained malaria-infected thin blood films

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Daily assessment of the percentage of erythrocytes that are infected ('percent-parasitaemia') across a time-course is a necessary step in many experimental studies of malaria, but represents a time-consuming and unpopular task among researchers. The mos...

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Main Authors: Scholzen Anja, Drew Nathan, Proudfoot Owen, Xiang Sue, Plebanski Magdalena
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2008-04-01
Series:Malaria Journal
Online Access:http://www.malariajournal.com/content/7/1/62
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author Scholzen Anja
Drew Nathan
Proudfoot Owen
Xiang Sue
Plebanski Magdalena
author_facet Scholzen Anja
Drew Nathan
Proudfoot Owen
Xiang Sue
Plebanski Magdalena
author_sort Scholzen Anja
collection DOAJ
description <p>Abstract</p> <p>Daily assessment of the percentage of erythrocytes that are infected ('percent-parasitaemia') across a time-course is a necessary step in many experimental studies of malaria, but represents a time-consuming and unpopular task among researchers. The most common method is extensive microscopic examination of Giemsa-stained thin blood-films. This study explored a method for the assessment of percent-parasitaemia that does not require extended periods of microscopy and results in a descriptive and permanent record of parasitaemia data that is highly amenable to subsequent 'data-mining'. Digital photography was utilized in conjunction with a basic purpose-written computer programme to test the viability of the concept. Partial automation of the determination of percent parasitaemia was then explored, resulting in the successful customization of commercially available broad-spectrum image analysis software towards this aim. Lastly, automated discrimination between infected and uninfected RBCs based on analysis of digital parameters of individual cell images was explored in an effort to completely automate the calculation of an accurate percent-parasitaemia.</p>
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spelling doaj.art-2a4965559a44470e808ac172c05d02252022-12-21T18:51:33ZengBMCMalaria Journal1475-28752008-04-01716210.1186/1475-2875-7-62Investigation of a novel approach to scoring Giemsa-stained malaria-infected thin blood filmsScholzen AnjaDrew NathanProudfoot OwenXiang SuePlebanski Magdalena<p>Abstract</p> <p>Daily assessment of the percentage of erythrocytes that are infected ('percent-parasitaemia') across a time-course is a necessary step in many experimental studies of malaria, but represents a time-consuming and unpopular task among researchers. The most common method is extensive microscopic examination of Giemsa-stained thin blood-films. This study explored a method for the assessment of percent-parasitaemia that does not require extended periods of microscopy and results in a descriptive and permanent record of parasitaemia data that is highly amenable to subsequent 'data-mining'. Digital photography was utilized in conjunction with a basic purpose-written computer programme to test the viability of the concept. Partial automation of the determination of percent parasitaemia was then explored, resulting in the successful customization of commercially available broad-spectrum image analysis software towards this aim. Lastly, automated discrimination between infected and uninfected RBCs based on analysis of digital parameters of individual cell images was explored in an effort to completely automate the calculation of an accurate percent-parasitaemia.</p>http://www.malariajournal.com/content/7/1/62
spellingShingle Scholzen Anja
Drew Nathan
Proudfoot Owen
Xiang Sue
Plebanski Magdalena
Investigation of a novel approach to scoring Giemsa-stained malaria-infected thin blood films
Malaria Journal
title Investigation of a novel approach to scoring Giemsa-stained malaria-infected thin blood films
title_full Investigation of a novel approach to scoring Giemsa-stained malaria-infected thin blood films
title_fullStr Investigation of a novel approach to scoring Giemsa-stained malaria-infected thin blood films
title_full_unstemmed Investigation of a novel approach to scoring Giemsa-stained malaria-infected thin blood films
title_short Investigation of a novel approach to scoring Giemsa-stained malaria-infected thin blood films
title_sort investigation of a novel approach to scoring giemsa stained malaria infected thin blood films
url http://www.malariajournal.com/content/7/1/62
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AT xiangsue investigationofanovelapproachtoscoringgiemsastainedmalariainfectedthinbloodfilms
AT plebanskimagdalena investigationofanovelapproachtoscoringgiemsastainedmalariainfectedthinbloodfilms