Fully Automated Analysis of Parasitic Egg Cells in Faecal Preparations

随着驱虫药耐药性和无效性的出现，发展中国家放牧牲畜、家养宠物和人类中寄生蠕虫的检测和有针对性的控制越来越受到全世界的关注。该提案旨在为细胞学样本制作自动便携式数字分析仪的原型，该分析仪与基于云的数字图像增强相结合，将提供足够丰富的详细数据，以允许对粪便样本中存在的虫卵细胞进行自动机器计数。这种装置具有可负担得起、使用简单、坚固和紧凑的前景。自动化粪蛋计数将提高动物产品的生产效率，减少牲畜的温室气体排放，并使整个社会受益于更可持续、道德和安全的粮食生产。牛、绵羊、山羊、猪、马、家养宠物和潜在的人类将从改善的健康和福利中受益。

The detection and hence targeted control of parasitic worms in grazing livestock, domestic pets and humans in developing countries is of increasing worldwide interest as anthelmintic drug resistance and hence ineffectiveness takes hold. This proposal aims to prototype an automated, portable digital analyser for cytological samples which, in conjunction with cloud based digital image enhancement will provide data sufficiently rich in detail to allow automated machine counting of worm egg cells present in a faecal sample. Such a device has the prospect of being affordable, simple to use, rugged and compact. Automated faecal egg counts will lead to more efficient production of animal products, attenuation of greenhouse gas emissions by livestock, and benefit society at large from more sustainable, ethical and secure food production. Cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, horses, domestic pets and potentially humans will benefit from improved health and welfare.