Suitability of Fourier transform infrared microscopy for the diagnosis of cystic echinococcosis in human tissue sections

A Brunner; S H Unterberger; H Auer; T Hautz; S Schneeberger; R Stalder; J Badzoka; C Kappacher; C W Huck; B Zelger; J D Pallua

doi:10.1002/jbio.202300513

Suitability of Fourier transform infrared microscopy for the diagnosis of cystic echinococcosis in human tissue sections

J Biophotonics. 2024 Mar 26:e202300513. doi: 10.1002/jbio.202300513. Online ahead of print.

Authors

A Brunner¹, S H Unterberger², H Auer³, T Hautz⁴, S Schneeberger⁴, R Stalder⁵, J Badzoka⁶, C Kappacher⁶, C W Huck⁶, B Zelger¹, J D Pallua⁷

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Pathology, Neuropathology and Molecular Pathology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
² Department of Material-Technology, Leopold-Franzens University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
³ Department of Medical Parasitology, Clinical Institute of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
⁴ OrganLifeTM, Department of Visceral, Transplant and Thoracic Surgery, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
⁵ Institute of Mineralogy and Petrography, Leopold-Franzens University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
⁶ Institute of Analytical Chemistry and Radiochemistry, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
⁷ Department of Hospital for Orthopedics and Traumatology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.

PMID: 38531615
DOI: 10.1002/jbio.202300513

Abstract

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a global health concern caused by cestodes, posing diagnostic challenges due to nonspecific symptoms and inconclusive radiographic results. Diagnosis relies on histopathological evaluation of affected tissue, demanding comprehensive tools. In this retrospective case study, Fourier transform infrared microscopy was explored for detecting and identifying CE through biochemical changes in human tissue sections. Tissue samples from 11 confirmed CE patients were analyzed. Archived FFPE blocks were cut and stained, and then CE-positive unstained sections were examined using Fourier transform infrared microscopy post-deparaffinization. Results revealed the method's ability to distinguish echinococcus elements from human tissue, irrespective of organ type. This research showcases the potential of mid-infrared microscopy as a valuable diagnostic tool for CE, offering promise in enhancing diagnostic precision in the face of the disease's complexities.

Keywords: Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) microscopic imaging; PCR; echinococcosis; histology.