Trophozoite stage infected erythrocyte contents analysis by use of spectral imaging LED microscope

This paper describes an application of both multispectral imaging system and multivariate analysis for the discrimination between healthy and prior malaria-infected human erythrocytes contents. The multispectral microscope is based on LEDs illumination sources ranging from 375 nm to 940 nm and running with three geometries. Principal component and hierarchical clustering analysis have been applied effectively to differentiate the cells constituents. The trophozoite stage of plasmodium falciparum and its food vacuole, as well as 'haem' derivatives have been mapped. Our results reveal the potential of this technique, for malaria drug-target study, and earlier marker-free blood smear diagnosis.