Abstract
Opisthorchis viverrini, a human liver fluke, is highly prevalent in Southeast Asia. Definitive diagnosis of infection is usually achieved parasitologically through the discovery of fluke eggs in feces. However, the eggs of O. viverrini are difficult to differentiate morphologically from those of other minute intestinal flukes in fecal samples, even for experienced technicians. The present study developed a label-free optical methodology for analysis of O. viverrini eggs using Raman spectroscopy. Raman features of O. viverrini eggs were reported that can be used as marker bands for the efficient analysis of O. viverrini eggs in fecal specimens. The methodology presented here allows for the rapid detection of O. viverrini egg infection and can be readily and practicably applied in any clinical setting, even those in which a trained parasitologist is not available.
Highlights
Human opisthorchiasis caused by the food-borne trematode, Opisthorchis viverrini, remains a major public health concern, especially in Southeast Asia [1,2]
This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of using confocal Raman spectroscopy for rapid, label-free analysis of O. viverrini eggs obtained from hamster and human feces
Supportive tools for differentiation of O. viverrini eggs can be performed by the potassium permanganate staining method [1,19] and by using a scanning electron microscope [5,20]
Summary
Human opisthorchiasis caused by the food-borne trematode, Opisthorchis viverrini, remains a major public health concern, especially in Southeast Asia [1,2]. Chronic or recurrent infection with the parasite can cause hepatobiliary diseases such as hepatomegaly, cholangitis, cholecystitis, peri-ductal fibrosis, and gallstones and is associated with bile duct cancer (cholangiocarcinoma) [4]. Early diagnosis and treatment of Opisthorchis viverrini infection may prevent the occurrence of these conditions. Diagnosis of opisthorchiasis is usually performed by microscopic observation of Opisthorchis eggs in feces. It is difficult to differentiate O. viverrini eggs from those of Clonorchis sinensis and the eggs of opisthorchiids from those of lecithodendriids (i.e., Haplorchis taichui, Haplorchis pumilio, and Stellantchasmus falcatus) and heterophyids (i.e., Centrocestus caninus, Prosthodendrium molenkampi, and Phaneropsolus bonnei) because of their morphological similarity [5]. Microscopic examination for the presence of O. viverrini eggs requires specialized parasitologists working alongside well-trained laboratory
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