The scattering characteristics of the malaria byproduct hemozoin, including its scattering distribution and depolarization, are modeled using Discrete Dipole Approximation (DDA) and compared to those of healthy red blood cells. Scattering (or dark-field) spectroscopy and imaging are used to identify hemozoin in fresh rodent blood samples. A new detection method is proposed and demonstrated using dark-field in conjunction with cross-polarization imaging and spectroscopy. SNRs greater than 50:1 are achieved for hemozoin in fresh blood without the addition of stains or reagents. The potential of such a detection system is discussed.

© 2011 OSA

1. C. Wongsrichanalai, M. J. Barcus, S. Muth, A. Sutamihardja, and W. H. Wernsdorfer, “A review of malaria diagnostic tools: microscopy and rapid diagnostic test (RDT),” Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. 77(6Suppl), 119–127 (2007).
2. D. Payne, “Use and limitations of light microscopy for diagnosing malaria at the primary health care level,” Bull. World Health Organ. 66(5), 621–626 (1988). [PubMed]
3. World Health Organization, “Malaria Rapid Diagnostic Test Performance,” (Geneva, 2009).
4. A. Wolter, “Uber die Schnelldiagnose der Malaria mit Hilfe des Dunkelfeldes,” Dermat. Zeitschrift 63(1-2), 69–72 (1932). [CrossRef]
5. G. A. Jamjoom, “Dark-field microscopy for detection of malaria in unstained blood films,” J. Clin. Microbiol. 17(5), 717–721 (1983). [PubMed]
6. B. R. Wood, A. Hermelink, P. Lasch, K. R. Bambery, G. T. Webster, M. A. Khiavi, B. M. Cooke, S. Deed, D. Naumann, and D. McNaughton, “Resonance Raman microscopy in combination with partial dark-field microscopy lights up a new path in malaria diagnostics,” Analyst (Lond.) 134(6), 1119–1125 (2009). [CrossRef]
7. C. Lawrence and J. A. Olson, “Birefringent hemozoin identifies malaria,” Am. J. Clin. Pathol. 86(3), 360–363 (1986). [PubMed]
8. C. Romagosa, C. Menendez, M. R. Ismail, L. Quintó, B. Ferrer, P. L. Alonso, and J. Ordi, “Polarisation microscopy increases the sensitivity of hemozoin and Plasmodium detection in the histological assessment of placental malaria,” Acta Trop. 90(3), 277–284 (2004). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
9. F. P. Josephine and V. Nissapatorn, “Malaria: the value of the automated depolarization analysis,” Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health 36(Suppl 4), 68–72 (2005).
10. B. V. Mendelow, C. Lyons, P. Nhlangothi, M. Tana, M. Munster, E. Wypkema, L. Liebowitz, L. Marshall, S. Scott, and T. L. Coetzer, “Automated malaria detection by depolarization of laser light,” Br. J. Haematol. 104(3), 499–503 (1999). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
11. G. S. Noland, N. Briones, and D. J. Sullivan., “The shape and size of hemozoin crystals distinguishes diverse Plasmodium species,” Mol. Biochem. Parasitol. 130(2), 91–99 (2003). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
12. M. D. Green, L. Xiao, and A. A. Lal, “Formation of hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids from hemozoin-catalyzed oxidation of arachidonic acid,” Mol. Biochem. Parasitol. 83(2), 183–188 (1996). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
13. B. T. Draine and P. J. Flatau, “Discrete-dipole approximation for scattering calculations,” J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 11(4), 1491–1499 (1994). [CrossRef]
14. Y. M. Serebrennikova, J. Patel, and L. H. Garcia-Rubio, “Interpretation of the ultraviolet-visible spectra of malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum,” Appl. Opt. 49(2), 180–188 (2010). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
15. Y. Park, M. Diez-Silva, G. Popescu, G. Lykotrafitis, W. Choi, M. S. Feld, and S. Suresh, “Refractive index maps and membrane dynamics of human red blood cells parasitized by Plasmodium falciparum,” Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 105(37), 13730–13735 (2008). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Acta Trop.

• C. Romagosa, C. Menendez, M. R. Ismail, L. Quintó, B. Ferrer, P. L. Alonso, and J. Ordi, “Polarisation microscopy increases the sensitivity of hemozoin and Plasmodium detection in the histological assessment of placental malaria,” Acta Trop. 90(3), 277–284 (2004). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Am. J. Clin. Pathol.

• C. Lawrence and J. A. Olson, “Birefringent hemozoin identifies malaria,” Am. J. Clin. Pathol. 86(3), 360–363 (1986). [PubMed]

Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg.

• C. Wongsrichanalai, M. J. Barcus, S. Muth, A. Sutamihardja, and W. H. Wernsdorfer, “A review of malaria diagnostic tools: microscopy and rapid diagnostic test (RDT),” Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. 77(6Suppl), 119–127 (2007).

Analyst (Lond.)

• B. R. Wood, A. Hermelink, P. Lasch, K. R. Bambery, G. T. Webster, M. A. Khiavi, B. M. Cooke, S. Deed, D. Naumann, and D. McNaughton, “Resonance Raman microscopy in combination with partial dark-field microscopy lights up a new path in malaria diagnostics,” Analyst (Lond.) 134(6), 1119–1125 (2009). [CrossRef]

Appl. Opt.

• Y. M. Serebrennikova, J. Patel, and L. H. Garcia-Rubio, “Interpretation of the ultraviolet-visible spectra of malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum,” Appl. Opt. 49(2), 180–188 (2010). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Br. J. Haematol.

• B. V. Mendelow, C. Lyons, P. Nhlangothi, M. Tana, M. Munster, E. Wypkema, L. Liebowitz, L. Marshall, S. Scott, and T. L. Coetzer, “Automated malaria detection by depolarization of laser light,” Br. J. Haematol. 104(3), 499–503 (1999). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Bull. World Health Organ.

• D. Payne, “Use and limitations of light microscopy for diagnosing malaria at the primary health care level,” Bull. World Health Organ. 66(5), 621–626 (1988). [PubMed]

Dermat. Zeitschrift

• A. Wolter, “Uber die Schnelldiagnose der Malaria mit Hilfe des Dunkelfeldes,” Dermat. Zeitschrift 63(1-2), 69–72 (1932). [CrossRef]

J. Clin. Microbiol.

• G. A. Jamjoom, “Dark-field microscopy for detection of malaria in unstained blood films,” J. Clin. Microbiol. 17(5), 717–721 (1983). [PubMed]

J. Opt. Soc. Am. A

• B. T. Draine and P. J. Flatau, “Discrete-dipole approximation for scattering calculations,” J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 11(4), 1491–1499 (1994). [CrossRef]

Mol. Biochem. Parasitol.

• G. S. Noland, N. Briones, and D. J. Sullivan., “The shape and size of hemozoin crystals distinguishes diverse Plasmodium species,” Mol. Biochem. Parasitol. 130(2), 91–99 (2003). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• M. D. Green, L. Xiao, and A. A. Lal, “Formation of hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids from hemozoin-catalyzed oxidation of arachidonic acid,” Mol. Biochem. Parasitol. 83(2), 183–188 (1996). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

• Y. Park, M. Diez-Silva, G. Popescu, G. Lykotrafitis, W. Choi, M. S. Feld, and S. Suresh, “Refractive index maps and membrane dynamics of human red blood cells parasitized by Plasmodium falciparum,” Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 105(37), 13730–13735 (2008). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health

• F. P. Josephine and V. Nissapatorn, “Malaria: the value of the automated depolarization analysis,” Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health 36(Suppl 4), 68–72 (2005).

Other

• World Health Organization, “Malaria Rapid Diagnostic Test Performance,” (Geneva, 2009).

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