Study and feasibility of new parasite concentration and identification paradigms

• Grant number: 14/50393-1
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Innovative Research in Small Business - PIPE
• Start date: March 01, 2015
• End date: November 30, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Collective Health - Public Health
• Principal Investigator: Jancarlo Ferreira Gomes
• Grantee: Jancarlo Ferreira Gomes
• Company: Immunocamp Comércio de Produtos Hospitalares Ltda
• City: Vinhedo
• Associated research grant(s): 16/50501-4 - Study and feasibility of new parasite concentration and identification paradigms, AP.PIPE

Abstract

Enteroparasitoses are highly prevalent in the world and are currently among the leading causes of human disease and death, especially in regions of the planet with tropical, subtropical and equatorial climates, including Brazil. For the detection of these conditions, technical laboratory procedures are employed, which are basically constituted by conventional techniques and commercial kits, which, according to the scientific literature, demonstrate low to moderate diagnostic sensitivity, that may range from 30.2% % to 77.8%. Procedural errors, such as incorrect fecal material collection, improper choice of parasitological technique and use of high-saturation (specific density) chemical reagents, as well as interpretation would be directly related to the lack of efficacy of this diagnosis. Given the above, and in order to continue a grand line of multidisciplinary research and to increase the efficiency of this type of diagnosis, the main objective of this research program would be through the study and feasibility of a principle of separation of mixtures for the detection of human fecal parasites, with the unprecedented application of flotation, with the use of dissolved air and specific additive in fecal suspension, thus generating bubbles that would adhere to the external parasite membranes without altering them, dragging them the surface of interest of a thrust container free of faecal impurities. In this circumstance, we would use the study and feasibility of a prototype Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF) unit. As expected results and impacts, in the national and international markets, this new diagnostic modality, either through individual diagnosis (individual analysis), replacing conventional techniques and commercial kits, or coupled to the DAPI system, would be unique in the world and, certainly, it would innovate the way this laboratory diagnosis has been performed for decades. Certainly, this new form of diagnosis will enable the examination to be released by imaging, with productivity gains and a considerable reduction in the use of consumable and permanent materials. This diagnosis advance will also make it possible to restore the credibility of the sanitary medical class to the parasitological examination of feces, in order to impact the reduction of empirical and indiscriminate use of antiparasitic drugs. To confirm the success of the feasibility study and the subsequent phases (phases 2 and 3) of the current work proposal, we hope to impact the area of clinical diagnosis parasitology, innovatively contributing to a constant use examination of a large part of the population, favoring the diagnostic credibility of public and private clinical analysis laboratories, as well as governmental programs, in order to result in social contribution. (AU)

Filed patent(s) as a result of this research project