Dogs trained to detect malaria

It is already known that dogs with a sharp nose can detect a host of human diseases, including cancers.

A new study has now shown that dogs could possibly detect and diagnose a person with malaria. Indices of this technology now help scientists develop accurate diagnostic technology that can detect the feared parasitic infection that kills thousands of people each year.

Malaria. Release of malaria parasites from red blood cells. Image credit: Kateryna Kon / Shutterstock

The researchers explain that in patients with epilepsy, early cancers and fluctuations in blood sugar levels, the smell of urine, sweat and breath are impaired . This minimal change is often detected by the sharp nose of trained dogs.

Malaria is a parasitic infection caused by the Plasmodium species and can be detected by blood tests. It kills thousands of people every year and there is currently no rapid, non-invasive test to detect infection with high fevers and chills that can lead to serious complications or even death if it is not 39, is not processed correctly. According to Steven Lindsay, a public health entomologist at Durham University, the development of a technology that exploits the principles of a dog's nose to detect malaria could lead to the development of a simple, non-invasive test for malaria detection.

Dr. Lindsay explains that people with malaria often produce a "distinct smell on their breath". It is assumed that mosquitoes can detect the presence of parasites in humans and bite them to promote the spread of infection when they bite another person in good health. Their scientists hypothesized that dogs also had first-rate odor systems and it is likely that they might also be able to detect these parasites in humans through these distinctive odors. .

Professor Lindsay presented the results of his research at the annual meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, this week in New Orleans, and revealed that dogs (a Labrador Métis and Retriever of the Labrador) formed used socks were able to sniff the parasite.

They were right to detect an infected person in 70% of cases and detect if a person did not have the infection in 90% of cases. Both are right about infection or infection status without infection with high accuracy.

Lindsay explained that Gambian children who participated in the study received nylon socks to wear during the night. Samples of these socks were then sent to the UK in airtight packs for odor identification by trained dogs.

According to the team of researchers, it is only a step in the validation of the concept, but a first step to find an alternative to blood tests. Every year, hundreds of thousands of blood tests are done to detect malaria in infected and uninfected people.

According to Professor Lindsay, this technique could allow dogs to also detect patients with malaria in large crowds. He added that teams would work with national malaria control programs in various countries to develop safer and more non-invasive alternatives to diagnosis. He added that the next step could be the development of chemical detectors capable of detecting malaria with the help of odor markers.