Detection of intestinal parasites in human faecal samples using dissolved air flotation

• Autor(a) principal: Soares, Felipe Augusto
• Data de Publicação: 2022
• Outros Autores: dos Santos, Bianca Martins, Rosa, Stefany Laryssa, Loiola, Saulo Hudson Nery, Stéfano, Vitória Castilho, Proença, Letícia Rodrigues, Suzuki, Celso Tetsuo Nagase, Sabadini, Edvaldo, Bresciani, Katia Denise Saraiva [UNESP], Falcão, Alexandre Xavier, Gomes, Jancarlo Ferreira
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Institucional da UNESP
• Texto Completo: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/tmi.13827; http://hdl.handle.net/11449/248999
• topic: diagnostic techniques and procedures; flotation; parasitic diseases; parasitology

Objective: Ova and parasite (O&P) examination is recommended for the laboratory diagnosis of agents causing parasitic infections; however, this exam requires scientific and technological improvements to enhance its diagnostic validity. Dissolved air flotation (DAF) is an efficient technical principle separating suspended solids in a liquid medium. We aimed to develop and validate a new procedure for intestinal parasite detection with DAF. Methods: In this study, we collected samples from 500 volunteers, screened them by direct examination, and transferred the material to tubes using the Three Faecal Test (TF-Test) for triplicate DAF tests. We evaluated physical–chemical parameters and DAF prototype components through quantifying parasites recovered from floated and non-floated regions of the flotation column. The DAF operation protocol was validated with the gold standard results. Results: The 10% saturated volume proportion and cationic surfactant showed regularity and high parasite recovery (80%). Modifications of the needle device did not influence parasite recovery (p > 0.05). Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy and kappa agreement obtained with the DAF protocol were 91%, 100%, 93% and substantial (k = 0.64), respectively. Conclusion: The DAF principle could be used to process faecal samples in routine laboratory exams, enabling intestinal parasite detection.