Field Application of NIR Spectroscopy for the Discrimination of the Biomphalaria Species That Are Intermediate Hosts of Schistosoma mansoni in Brazil

Abstract

Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) is a spectroscopic technique that evaluates the vibrational energy levels of the chemical bonds of molecules within a wavelength range of 750–2,500 nm. This simple method acquires spectra that provide qualitative and quantitative data on the chemical components of the biomass of living organisms through the interaction between the electromagnetic waves and the sample. NIRS is an innovative, rapid, and non-destructive technique that can contribute to the differentiation of species based on their chemical phenotypes. Chemical profiles were obtained by NIRS from three snail species (Biomphalaria glabrata, Biomphalaria straminea, and Biomphalaria tenagophila) that are intermediate hosts of Schistosoma mansoni in Brazil. The correct identification of these species is important from an epidemiological viewpoint, given that each species has distinct biological and physiological characteristics. The present study aimed to develop a chemometric model for the interspecific and intra-specific classification of the three species, focusing on laboratory and field populations. The data were obtained from 271 live animals, including 150 snails recently collected from the field, with the remainder being raised in the laboratory. Populations were sampled at three localities in the Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro, in the municipalities of Sumidouro (B. glabrata) and Paracambi (B. straminea), and the borough of Jacarepaguá in the Rio de Janeiro city (B. tenagophila). The chemometric analysis was run in the Unscrambler® software. The intra-specific classification of the field and laboratory populations obtained accuracy rates of 72.5% (B. tenagophila), 77.5% (B. straminea), and 85.0% (B. glabrata). The interspecific differentiation had a hit rate of 75% for the field populations and 80% for the laboratory populations. The results indicate chemical and metabolic differences between populations of the same species from the field and the laboratory. The chemical phenotype, which is closely related to the metabolic profile of the snails, varied between environments. Overall, the NIRS technique proved to be a potentially valuable tool for medical malacology, enabling the systematic discrimination of the Biomphalaria snails that are the intermediate hosts of S. mansoni in Brazil.

Near infrared spectroscopy: a method for the monitoring and management of the commercial exploitation of the brown mussel (Perna perna) in southeastern Brazil

“…The excess moisture in the muscle group was also removed using absorbent paper. The methods used here were adapted from Valladares et al (2021), with some minor modifications. The samples were analyzed individually and in a random sequence.…”

“…The consumption of contaminated foods can cause adverse effects on human health (Stankovic et al, 2012). Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) is one of the tools that has been used to estimate food quality parameters and energy storage and consumption in bivalves (Fluckiger et al, 2011;Bartlett et al, 2018), as well as monitoring marine toxins (Lopes et al, 2018), and differentiating mollusk species obtained from both the field and captive stocks (Valladares et al, 2021). The spectroscopic technology of NIRS evaluates molecular vibrations based on the combination of covalent bonds, such as -CH, -NH, -OH, and -SH, referring to the chemical composition of the material, being able to differentiate among apparently identical samples.…”

“…A NIRS spectrum thus provides by a computer both qualitative and quantitative data that can be used to compile the chemical phenotype of a sample. The application of NIRS requires no pretreatment of samples, is rapid, and non-destructive (Siesler et al, 2008;Valladares et al, 2021). Aspects such as comprehensive sample selection and assembly, reproducible and accurate reference analysis, great spectral precision, and effective sample presentation to the equipment are fundamental to the successful application of this technique.…”

Near-infrared spectroscopy and machine learning algorithms for rapid and non-invasive detection of Trichuris

“…Spectral signatures are characteristic of the chemical profile of samples being analysed and can be used as fingerprints for that sample. NIRS has been previously used to analyse 1) mosquitoes to detect malaria [13], Zika [14], Wolbachia [15], Chikungunya [16], 2) Triatomine species to detect Trypanosoma cruzi parasites, the causative agent of chagas disease [17] and 3) differentiate Biomphalaria species that are intermediate hosts of Schistosoma mansoni [18]. NIRS has also been used to age grade and differentiate mosquito species [19,20], differentiate bacteria species [21], detect cancer tumors in patients [22][23][24], determine blood oxygen saturation and haemoglobin concentration [25,26] and to detect cerebral malaria in children [27].…”

Feasibility of near-infrared spectroscopy for species identification and parasitological diagnosis of freshwater snails of the genus Biomphalaria (Planorbidae)

“…In the specific case of mollusks, IRS has been applied in the mid range for the investigation of phenomena such as the process of shell formation (biomineralization) and its diagnostic markers [ 9 – 16 ], the composition of the organic matrix of the shell [ 17 ], and the identification of chitin in shells from archaeological sites [ 18 ]. Regarding near infrared, only one paper has been published so far approaching its use in mollusks, aiming at identifying Biomphalaria species, intermediate hosts of Schistosoma mansoni , collected from the field as well as the degree of contamination of the freshwater environments they inhabit [ 19 ].…”