AI detection of parasite infections in the gut

Project summary

This project will revolutionize the diagnosis of parasitic diseases using advanced AI-powered automated microscopy for rapid detection of gastrointestinal parasites.

Parasites live in or on another animal, such as worms in your intestines. They are becoming an increasing problem in the Netherlands. This is due to climate change and because travel to and from tropical countries (where there are many parasites) is increasing. Determining whether someone has parasites takes a lot of time and money. In the hospital laboratory, highly trained people use a microscope to accurately search for parasites in patient samples. This research is difficult and parasites are often overlooked.

In order to improve research into parasites, this project by Erasmus MC and Leven Vision aims to develop an automated method. With the help of artificial intelligence, parasites can be detected by the computer in photos taken with an automated microscope. Erasmus MC is an expert in demonstrating parasites in patient samples. Erasmus MC has all the necessary knowledge and materials needed to make good digital photos of parasites. These digital photos are needed to create the artificial intelligence detection models. Leven Vision is a Dutch start-up company that is an expert in information technology and artificial intelligence (AI). The project will first link an automated microscope to a computer system. The system can then take many photos of parasites. With these photos, the computer can learn what different parasites look like.

In order to achieve these goals, new knowledge and technology must be developed for taking the right photos and for the computer to learn smartly. Ultimately, this project will lead to a laboratory system that can detect parasites better and cheaper. Patients can then be treated better and the disease burden caused by parasites will decrease.