The first step toward diagnosing female genital schistosomiasis by computer image analysis.
Schistosoma haematobium causes female genital schistosomiasis (FGS), which is a poverty-related disease in sub-Saharan Africa. Furthermore, it is co-endemic with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and biopsies from genital lesions may expose the individual to increased risk of HIV infection. However, microscopy of urine and hematuria are nonspecific and insensitive predictors of FGS and gynecological investigation requires extensive training. Safe and affordable diagnostic methods are needed. We explore a novel method of diagnosing FGS using computer color analysis of colposcopic images. In a cross-sectional study on young women in an endemic area, we found strong associations between the output from the computer color analysis and both clinical diagnosis (odds ratio [OR] = 5.97, P < 0.001) and urine microscopy for schistosomiasis (OR = 3.52, P = 0.004). Finally, using latent class statistics, we estimate that the computer color analysis yields a sensitivity of 80.5% and a specificity of 66.2% for the diagnosis of FGS.
Sigve Dhondup
SD
Holmen
Elisabeth
E
Kleppa
Kristine
K
Lillebø
Pavitra
P
Pillay
Lisette
L
van Lieshout
Myra
M
Taylor
Fritz
F
Albregtsen
Birgitte Jyding
BJ
Vennervald
Mathias
M
Onsrud
Eyrun Floerecke
EF
Kjetland
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000473:pathology*; D060085:Coinfection; D003127:Colposcopy / Q000379:methods*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018509:DNA, Helminth / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005831:Genital Diseases, Female / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D010270:Parasite Egg Count; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012548:Schistosoma haematobium / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012553:Schistosomiasis haematobia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D013019:South Africa; D014556:Urine / Q000469:parasitology*; D002575:Uterine Cervicitis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult
D018509:DNA, Helminth