Dissolved air flotation as potential new mechanism for intestinal parasite diagnosis in feces

Author(s)

Soares, Felipe Augusto ^{[1, 2]} ; Santos, Bianca Martins dos ^{[1, 2]} ; Rosa, Stefany Laryssa ^{[1, 2]} ; Loiola, Saulo Hudson Nery ^{[1, 2]} ; Suzuki, Celso Tetsuo Nagase ^{[2, 3]} ; Sabadini, Edvaldo ^[4] ; Bresciani, Katia Denise Saraiva ^[5] ; Falcao, Alexandre Xavier ^[2] ; Gomes, Jancarlo Ferreira ^{[1, 2]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Estadual Campinas, Sch Med Sci, BR-13083889 Campinas, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Estadual Campinas, Inst Comp IC, Lab Image Data Sci LIDS, Bldg IC 3-5 Room 363A, BR-13083851 Campinas, SP - Brazil

^[3] ImmunoCamp Sci & Technol, Vinhedo, SP - Brazil

^[4] Univ Estadual Campinas, Inst Chem, Dept Phys Chem, Campinas, SP - Brazil

^[5] Sao Paulo State Univ, Sch Vet Med, Aracatuba, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Acta Tropica; v. 224, DEC 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

The parasitological examination of feces is recommended for the laboratory diagnosis of intestinal parasites due to its practicality, low-cost, and moderate diagnostic sensitivity. Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF) is an efficient technical principle used in other areas to separate dispersed solids. This study sought the preliminary evaluation of a proof-of-concept prototype as a tool for detecting species of parasites by adjusting DAF. Two DAF prototype units were developed to evaluate microbubbles' generation amidst fecal suspension and parasites' capture. For this evaluation, samples were screened and processed by the TF-Test technique (Control) and simultaneously by DAF device. The dimensional and attachment characteristics in the formation of the microbubbles were evaluated, and the percentage of parasitic recovery in floated and not-floated regions compared by Student's t-test. The second prototype unit proved to be more efficient in forming microbubbles with diameters between 34 and 170 mu m. The flotation tests showed a recovery of 73.27%, 58.12%, 37.85%, and 91.89% for Ascaris lumbricoides, Hymenolepis diminuta, Giardia duodenalis, and Strongyloides stercoralis, respectively. This study confirmed the selective interaction between microbubbles and parasite eggs and larvae during the flotation process using the DAF principle for the first time through imaging. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 16/50501-4 - Study and feasibility of new parasite concentration and identification paradigms
• Grantee: Jancarlo Ferreira Gomes
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Innovative Research in Small Business - PIPE