Morphological characterization of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in a MODS culture for an automatic diagnostics through pattern recognition.

Tuberculosis control efforts are hampered by a mismatch in diagnostic technology: modern optimal diagnostic tests are least available in poor areas where they are needed most. Lack of adequate early diagnostics and MDR detection is a critical problem in control efforts. The Microscopic Observation D...

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Main Authors: Alicia Alva, Fredy Aquino, Robert H Gilman, Carlos Olivares, David Requena, Andrés H Gutiérrez, Luz Caviedes, Jorge Coronel, Sandra Larson, Patricia Sheen, David A J Moore, Mirko Zimic
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2013-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0082809
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author Alicia Alva
Fredy Aquino
Robert H Gilman
Carlos Olivares
David Requena
Andrés H Gutiérrez
Luz Caviedes
Jorge Coronel
Sandra Larson
Patricia Sheen
David A J Moore
Mirko Zimic
author_facet Alicia Alva
Fredy Aquino
Robert H Gilman
Carlos Olivares
David Requena
Andrés H Gutiérrez
Luz Caviedes
Jorge Coronel
Sandra Larson
Patricia Sheen
David A J Moore
Mirko Zimic
author_sort Alicia Alva
collection DOAJ
description Tuberculosis control efforts are hampered by a mismatch in diagnostic technology: modern optimal diagnostic tests are least available in poor areas where they are needed most. Lack of adequate early diagnostics and MDR detection is a critical problem in control efforts. The Microscopic Observation Drug Susceptibility (MODS) assay uses visual recognition of cording patterns from Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) to diagnose tuberculosis infection and drug susceptibility directly from a sputum sample in 7-10 days with a low cost. An important limitation that laboratories in the developing world face in MODS implementation is the presence of permanent technical staff with expertise in reading MODS. We developed a pattern recognition algorithm to automatically interpret MODS results from digital images. The algorithm using image processing, feature extraction and pattern recognition determined geometrical and illumination features used in an object-model and a photo-model to classify TB-positive images. 765 MODS digital photos were processed. The single-object model identified MTB (96.9% sensitivity and 96.3% specificity) and was able to discriminate non-tuberculous mycobacteria with a high specificity (97.1% M. avium, 99.1% M. chelonae, and 93.8% M. kansasii). The photo model identified TB-positive samples with 99.1% sensitivity and 99.7% specificity. This algorithm is a valuable tool that will enable automatic remote diagnosis using Internet or cellphone telephony. The use of this algorithm and its further implementation in a telediagnostics platform will contribute to both faster TB detection and MDR TB determination leading to an earlier initiation of appropriate treatment.
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spelling doaj-art-fd70cda18a684bcdb3d6d4da826b56a32025-08-20T03:46:24ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032013-01-01812e8280910.1371/journal.pone.0082809Morphological characterization of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in a MODS culture for an automatic diagnostics through pattern recognition.Alicia AlvaFredy AquinoRobert H GilmanCarlos OlivaresDavid RequenaAndrés H GutiérrezLuz CaviedesJorge CoronelSandra LarsonPatricia SheenDavid A J MooreMirko ZimicTuberculosis control efforts are hampered by a mismatch in diagnostic technology: modern optimal diagnostic tests are least available in poor areas where they are needed most. Lack of adequate early diagnostics and MDR detection is a critical problem in control efforts. The Microscopic Observation Drug Susceptibility (MODS) assay uses visual recognition of cording patterns from Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) to diagnose tuberculosis infection and drug susceptibility directly from a sputum sample in 7-10 days with a low cost. An important limitation that laboratories in the developing world face in MODS implementation is the presence of permanent technical staff with expertise in reading MODS. We developed a pattern recognition algorithm to automatically interpret MODS results from digital images. The algorithm using image processing, feature extraction and pattern recognition determined geometrical and illumination features used in an object-model and a photo-model to classify TB-positive images. 765 MODS digital photos were processed. The single-object model identified MTB (96.9% sensitivity and 96.3% specificity) and was able to discriminate non-tuberculous mycobacteria with a high specificity (97.1% M. avium, 99.1% M. chelonae, and 93.8% M. kansasii). The photo model identified TB-positive samples with 99.1% sensitivity and 99.7% specificity. This algorithm is a valuable tool that will enable automatic remote diagnosis using Internet or cellphone telephony. The use of this algorithm and its further implementation in a telediagnostics platform will contribute to both faster TB detection and MDR TB determination leading to an earlier initiation of appropriate treatment.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0082809
spellingShingle Alicia Alva
Fredy Aquino
Robert H Gilman
Carlos Olivares
David Requena
Andrés H Gutiérrez
Luz Caviedes
Jorge Coronel
Sandra Larson
Patricia Sheen
David A J Moore
Mirko Zimic
Morphological characterization of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in a MODS culture for an automatic diagnostics through pattern recognition.
PLoS ONE
title Morphological characterization of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in a MODS culture for an automatic diagnostics through pattern recognition.
title_full Morphological characterization of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in a MODS culture for an automatic diagnostics through pattern recognition.
title_fullStr Morphological characterization of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in a MODS culture for an automatic diagnostics through pattern recognition.
title_full_unstemmed Morphological characterization of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in a MODS culture for an automatic diagnostics through pattern recognition.
title_short Morphological characterization of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in a MODS culture for an automatic diagnostics through pattern recognition.
title_sort morphological characterization of mycobacterium tuberculosis in a mods culture for an automatic diagnostics through pattern recognition
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0082809
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