Chandigarh: In an attempt to eliminate malaria by 2030 as per the CentreтАЩs vision, an algorithm of not missing a single case of malarial parasite is being developed by the PGI, the Central Scientific Instruments Organisation (CSIO) and the department of health and family welfare, Punjab.
The three-year project has been supported by department of science and technology and is conducted under supervision of Prof Rakesh Sehgal, head of the medical parasitology department, PGI.
Most cases of migratory workers are often missed as these people move out. This will be overcome by this artificial intelligence (AI). тАЬAI technology is being used in diagnosis of various diseases and can play an important role in more accurate diagnosis of diseases. It would be of benefit in rural areas where it can replace use of sophisticated and expensive equipment,тАЭ said Prof Sehgal. The gold standard for malaria diagnosis is microscopy but when technicians are not well-trained and not used to seeing parasites in slides, they miss the infection. The algorithm, which will be developed by the CSIO, is expected to boost malaria microscopy wherein a blood smear is visualised under a microscope.
Dr Taruna Kaura, scientist, department of medical parasitology, PGI, said, тАЬIn this visualisation, a trained microscopist sees the entire field of the slide so as not to miss a single infected RBC of the parasite. It is a lengthy process and there is a probability of missing the infection by untrained eyes. Here the AI will prepare an algorithm which will basically screen the whole slide and detecteven a single infected RBC.
The algorithm is being prepared for all four stages of parasite – ring stage, schizonts, trophozoites and gametocytes. These algorithms shall be compared to the microscopy and will be tested for sensitivity and specificity. The objective is to have such a testing system at the Primary health centres and the Community health centres to help technicians for active surveillance. Moreover, the reports of the microscopy can be validated by institutes like PGI as the data can be shared using the AI. A single infected person carrying the malarial parasite within and travelling elsewhere can transmit the infection.
In such a migratory population, this is the limitation for complete elimination of malaria. The AI can diagnose and treat such a community on the spot before they move out of the surveillance radar. тАЬThese people act as a reservoir host for the vectors. With this AI, the migratory population can be tested and treated on the spot without having the need to transport the blood smear to the referral institutes having PCR testing facilities,тАЭ said Dr Taruna. This work is being monitored by Dr Abhishek Mewara and Dr Gagandeep Singh Grover. After validation, the AI will be used in PHCs at Mansa and Bathinda.
