{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,24]],"date-time":"2026-08-24T20:44:33Z","timestamp":1787604273216,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":27,"publisher":"Springer Science and Business Media LLC","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,11,12]],"date-time":"2024-11-12T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1731369600000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,11,12]],"date-time":"2024-11-12T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1731369600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/100012895","name":"Zoetis","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","id":[{"id":"10.13039\/100012895","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["link.springer.com"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Parasites Vectors"],"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title><jats:sec>\n                <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                <jats:p>Current methods for obtaining fecal egg counts in horses are often inaccurate and variable depending on the analyst\u2019s skill and experience. Automated digital scanning of fecal sample slides integrated with analysis by an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm is a viable, emerging alternative that can mitigate operator variation compared to conventional methods in companion animal fecal parasite diagnostics. Vetscan Imagyst is a novel fecal parasite detection system that uploads the scanned image to the cloud where proprietary software analyzes captured images for diagnostic recognition by a deep learning, object detection AI algorithm. The study describes the use and validation of Vetscan Imagyst in equine parasitology.<\/jats:p>\n              <\/jats:sec><jats:sec>\n                <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                <jats:p>The primary objective of the study was to evaluate the performance of the Vetscan Imagyst system in terms of diagnostic sensitivity and specificity in testing equine fecal samples (<jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic>\u2009=\u2009108) for ova from two parasites that commonly infect horses, strongyles and <jats:italic>Parascaris<\/jats:italic> spp., compared to reference assays performed by expert parasitologists using a Mini-FLOTAC technique. Two different fecal flotation solutions were used to prepare the sample slides, NaNO<jats:sub>3<\/jats:sub> and Sheather\u2019s sugar solution.<\/jats:p>\n              <\/jats:sec><jats:sec>\n                <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                <jats:p>Diagnostic sensitivity of the Vetscan Imagyst algorithm for strongyles versus the manual reference test was 99.2% for samples prepared with NaNO<jats:sub>3<\/jats:sub> solution and 100.0% for samples prepared with Sheather\u2019s sugar solution. Sensitivity for <jats:italic>Parascaris<\/jats:italic> spp. was 88.9% and 99.9%, respectively, for samples prepared with NaNO<jats:sub>3<\/jats:sub> and Sheather\u2019s sugar solutions. Diagnostic specificity for strongyles was 91.4% and 99.9%, respectively, for samples prepared with NaNO<jats:sub>3<\/jats:sub> and Sheather\u2019s sugar solutions. Specificity for <jats:italic>Parascaris<\/jats:italic> spp. was 93.6% and 99.9%, respectively, for samples prepared with NaNO<jats:sub>3<\/jats:sub> and Sheather\u2019s sugar solutions. Lin\u2019s concordance correlation coefficients for VETSCAN IMAGYST eggs per gram counts versus those determined by the expert parasitologist were 0.924\u20130.978 for strongyles and 0.944\u20130.955 for <jats:italic>Parascaris<\/jats:italic> spp., depending on the flotation solution.<\/jats:p>\n              <\/jats:sec><jats:sec>\n                <jats:title>Conclusions<\/jats:title>\n                <jats:p>Sensitivity and specificity results for detecting strongyles and <jats:italic>Parascaris<\/jats:italic> spp. in equine fecal samples showed that Vetscan Imagyst can consistently provide diagnostic accuracy equivalent to manual evaluations by skilled parasitologists. As an automated method driven by a deep learning AI algorithm, VETSCAN IMAGYST has the potential to avoid variations in analyst characteristics, thus providing more consistent results in a timely manner, in either clinical or laboratory settings.<\/jats:p>\n              <\/jats:sec><jats:sec>\n                <jats:title>Graphical Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                \n              <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1186\/s13071-024-06525-w","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,11,12]],"date-time":"2024-11-12T17:45:26Z","timestamp":1731433526000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/springer_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":9,"title":["Validation of Vetscan Imagyst\u00ae, a diagnostic test utilizing an artificial intelligence deep learning algorithm, for detecting strongyles and Parascaris spp. in equine fecal samples"],"prefix":"10.1186","volume":"17","author":[{"given":"Ashley","family":"Steuer","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jason","family":"Fritzler","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"SaraBeth","family":"Boggan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ian","family":"Daniel","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Bobby","family":"Cowles","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Cory","family":"Penn","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Richard","family":"Goldstein","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Dan","family":"Lin","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"297","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,11,12]]},"reference":[{"key":"6525_CR1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"166","DOI":"10.1186\/s13071-022-05266-y","volume":"15","author":"H Boelow","year":"2022","unstructured":"Boelow H, Kr\u00fccken J, Thomas E, Mirams G, von Samson-Himmelstjerna G. Comparison of FECPAKG2, a modified Mini-FLOTAC technique and combined sedimentation and flotation for the coproscopic examination of helminth eggs in horses. Parasit Vectors. 2022;15:166.","journal-title":"Parasit Vectors"},{"key":"6525_CR2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.crpvbd.2021.100046","volume":"1","author":"A Ghafar","year":"2021","unstructured":"Ghafar A, Abbas G, King J, Jacobson C, Hughes KJ, El-Hage C, et al. Comparative studies on faecal egg counting techniques used for the detection of gastrointestinal parasites of equines: a systematic review. Curr Res Parasitol Vector Borne Dis. 2021;1:100046.","journal-title":"Curr Res Parasitol Vector Borne Dis"},{"key":"6525_CR3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1254","DOI":"10.3390\/ani10081254","volume":"10","author":"F Tyson","year":"2020","unstructured":"Tyson F, Dalesman S, Brophy PM, Morphew RM. Novel equine faecal egg diagnostics: validation of the FECPAKG2. Animals (Basel). 2020;10:1254.","journal-title":"Animals (Basel)"},{"key":"6525_CR4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"73","DOI":"10.1016\/j.vetpar.2014.05.009","volume":"204","author":"LR Ballweber","year":"2014","unstructured":"Ballweber LR, Beugnet F, Marchiondo AA, Payne PA. American association of veterinary parasitologists\u2019 review of veterinary fecal flotation methods and factors influencing their accuracy and use\u2014is there really one best technique? Vet Parasitol. 2014;204:73\u201380.","journal-title":"Vet Parasitol"},{"key":"6525_CR5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.vetpar.2020.109199","volume":"284","author":"JL Cain","year":"2020","unstructured":"Cain JL, Slusarewicz P, Rutledge MH, McVey MR, Wielgus KM, Zynda HM, et al. Diagnostic performance of McMaster, Wisconsin, and automated egg counting techniques for enumeration of equine strongyle eggs in fecal samples. Vet Parasitol. 2020;284:109199.","journal-title":"Vet Parasitol"},{"key":"6525_CR6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"346","DOI":"10.1186\/s13071-020-04215-x","volume":"13","author":"Y Nagamori","year":"2020","unstructured":"Nagamori Y, Hall Sedlak R, DeRosa A, Pullins A, Cree T, Loenser M, et al. Evaluation of the VETSCAN IMAGYST: an in-clinic canine and feline fecal parasite detection system integrated with a deep learning algorithm. Parasit Vectors. 2020;13:346.","journal-title":"Parasit Vectors"},{"key":"6525_CR7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"271","DOI":"10.1186\/1756-3305-7-271","volume":"7","author":"B Barda","year":"2014","unstructured":"Barda B, Cajal P, Villagran E, Cimino R, Juarez M, Krolewiecki A, et al. Mini-FLOTAC, Kato-Katz and McMaster: three methods, one goal; highlights from north Argentina. Parasit Vectors. 2014;7:271.","journal-title":"Parasit Vectors"},{"key":"6525_CR8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1213","DOI":"10.1645\/GE-2058.1","volume":"95","author":"MC Gates","year":"2009","unstructured":"Gates MC, Nolan TJ. Comparison of passive fecal flotation run by veterinary students to zinc-sulfate centrifugation flotation run in a diagnostic parasitology laboratory. J Parasitol. 2009;95:1213\u20134.","journal-title":"J Parasitol"},{"key":"6525_CR9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0175646","volume":"12","author":"A Alva","year":"2017","unstructured":"Alva A, Cangalaya C, Quiliano M, Krebs C, Gilman RH, Sheen P, et al. Mathematical algorithm for the automatic recognition of intestinal parasites. PLoS ONE. 2017;12:e0175646.","journal-title":"PLoS ONE"},{"key":"6525_CR10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"139","DOI":"10.3390\/pathogens9020139","volume":"9","author":"SV In\u00e1cio","year":"2020","unstructured":"In\u00e1cio SV, Ferreira Gomes J, Xavier Falc\u00e3o A, Nagase Suzuki CT, Bertequini Nagata W, Nery Loiola SH, et al. Automated diagnosis of canine gastrointestinal parasites using image analysis. Pathogens. 2020;9:139.","journal-title":"Pathogens"},{"key":"6525_CR11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.7717\/peerj-cs.1065","volume":"8","author":"KM Naing","year":"2022","unstructured":"Naing KM, Boonsang S, Chuwongin S, Kittichai V, Tongloy T, Prommongkol S, et al. Automatic recognition of parasitic products in stool examination using object detection approach. PeerJ Comput Sci. 2022;8:e1065.","journal-title":"PeerJ Comput Sci"},{"key":"6525_CR12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e00511","DOI":"10.1128\/JCM.00511-20","volume":"58","author":"DD Rhoads","year":"2020","unstructured":"Rhoads DD. Computer Vision and artificial intelligence are emerging diagnostic tools for the clinical microbiologist. J Clin Microbiol. 2020;58:e00511-e520.","journal-title":"J Clin Microbiol"},{"key":"6525_CR13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"85","DOI":"10.1016\/bs.apar.2022.07.002","volume":"118","author":"L Rinaldi","year":"2022","unstructured":"Rinaldi L, Kr\u00fccken J, Martinez-Valladares M, Pepe P, Maurelli MP, de Queiroz C, et al. Advances in diagnosis of gastrointestinal nematodes in livestock and companion animals. Adv Parasitol. 2022;118:85\u2013176.","journal-title":"Adv Parasitol"},{"key":"6525_CR14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"85","DOI":"10.1016\/j.vetpar.2017.10.005","volume":"247","author":"JA Scare","year":"2017","unstructured":"Scare JA, Slusarewicz P, Noel ML, Wielgus KM, Nielsen MK. Evaluation of accuracy and precision of a smartphone based automated parasite egg counting system in comparison to the McMaster and Mini-FLOTAC methods. Vet Parasitol. 2017;247:85\u201392.","journal-title":"Vet Parasitol"},{"key":"6525_CR15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pntd.0010500","volume":"16","author":"P Ward","year":"2022","unstructured":"Ward P, Dahlberg P, Lagatie O, Larsson J, Tynong A, Vlaminck J, et al. Affordable artificial intelligence-based digital pathology for neglected tropical diseases: a proof-of-concept for the detection of soil-transmitted helminths and Schistosoma mansoni eggs in Kato-Katz stool thick smears. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2022;16:e0010500.","journal-title":"PLoS Negl Trop Dis"},{"key":"6525_CR16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1466","DOI":"10.1093\/clinchem\/hvab165","volume":"67","author":"DS Herman","year":"2021","unstructured":"Herman DS, Rhoads DD, Schulz WL, Durant TJS. Artificial intelligence and mapping a new direction in laboratory medicine: A review. Clin Chem. 2021;67:1466\u201382.","journal-title":"Clin Chem"},{"key":"6525_CR17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1318","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cmi.2020.03.012","volume":"26","author":"KP Smith","year":"2020","unstructured":"Smith KP, Kirby JE. Image analysis and artificial intelligence in infectious disease diagnostics. Clin Microbiol Infect. 2020;26:1318\u201323.","journal-title":"Clin Microbiol Infect"},{"key":"6525_CR18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"89","DOI":"10.1186\/s13071-021-04591-y","volume":"14","author":"Y Nagamori","year":"2021","unstructured":"Nagamori Y, Sedlak RH, DeRosa A, Pullins A, Cree T, Loenser M, et al. Further evaluation and validation of the VETSCAN IMAGYST: in-clinic feline and canine fecal parasite detection system integrated with a deep learning algorithm. Parasit Vectors. 2021;14:89.","journal-title":"Parasit Vectors"},{"key":"6525_CR19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"509","DOI":"10.1186\/s13071-020-04396-5","volume":"13","author":"JL Bellaw","year":"2020","unstructured":"Bellaw JL, Nielsen MK. Meta-analysis of cyathostomin species-specific prevalence and relative abundance in domestic horses from 1975\u20132020: emphasis on geographical region and specimen collection method. Parasit Vectors. 2020;13:509.","journal-title":"Parasit Vectors"},{"key":"6525_CR20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2775","DOI":"10.1007\/s00436-022-07627-z","volume":"121","author":"JL Cain","year":"2022","unstructured":"Cain JL, Nielsen MK. The equine ascarids: resuscitating historic model organisms for modern purposes. Parasitol Res. 2022;121:2775\u201391.","journal-title":"Parasitol Res"},{"key":"6525_CR21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1186\/1756-3305-2-S2-S1","volume":"2","author":"S Corning","year":"2009","unstructured":"Corning S. Equine cyathostomins: a review of biology, clinical significance and therapy. Parasit Vectors. 2009;2:1.","journal-title":"Parasit Vectors"},{"key":"6525_CR22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"50","DOI":"10.1186\/s13071-022-05168-z","volume":"15","author":"AE Steuer","year":"2022","unstructured":"Steuer AE, Anderson HP, Shepherd T, Clark M, Scare JA, Gravatte HS, et al. Parasite dynamics in untreated horses through one calendar year. Parasit Vectors. 2022;15:50.","journal-title":"Parasit Vectors"},{"key":"6525_CR23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1723","DOI":"10.1038\/nprot.2017.067","volume":"12","author":"G Cringoli","year":"2017","unstructured":"Cringoli G, Maurelli MP, Levecke B, Bosco A, Vercruysse J, Utzinger J, et al. The Mini-FLOTAC technique for the diagnosis of helminth and protozoan infections in humans and animals. Nat Protoc. 2017;12:1723\u201332.","journal-title":"Nat Protoc"},{"key":"6525_CR24","first-page":"1","volume-title":"Veterinary clinical parasitology","author":"AM Zajac","year":"2012","unstructured":"Zajac AM, Conboy GA, Little SE, Reichard MV. Fecal examination for the diagnosis of parasitism. In: Zajac AM, editor. Veterinary clinical parasitology. 9th ed. Hoboken: Wiley; 2012. p. 1\u2013182.","edition":"9"},{"key":"6525_CR25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"111","DOI":"10.1016\/j.vetpar.2007.04.014","volume":"149","author":"A Pereckiene","year":"2007","unstructured":"Pereckiene A, Kazi\u016bnaite V, Vysniauskas A, Petkevicius S, Malakauskas A, Sark\u016bnas M, et al. A comparison of modifications of the McMaster method for the enumeration of Ascaris suum eggs in pig faecal samples. Vet Parasitol. 2007;149:111\u20136.","journal-title":"Vet Parasitol"},{"key":"6525_CR26","unstructured":"Silva P, Luz A, Rolim A, Carvalho R, Gomes L, Neto I, et al. Comparison study between four coprological methods and two flotation solutions in Sorraia horse (Equus ferus caballus)\u2014Preliminary results. In: 18th International conference on life sciences for sustainable development. University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca, Romania. 2019."},{"key":"6525_CR27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"45","DOI":"10.1016\/j.vetpar.2017.12.012","volume":"250","author":"MK Nielsen","year":"2018","unstructured":"Nielsen MK, Branan MA, Wiedenheft AM, Digianantonio R, Garber LP, Kopral CA, et al. Parasite control strategies used by equine owners in the United States: a national survey. Vet Parasitol. 2018;250:45\u201351.","journal-title":"Vet Parasitol"}],"container-title":["Parasites &amp; Vectors"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/content\/pdf\/10.1186\/s13071-024-06525-w.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1186\/s13071-024-06525-w\/fulltext.html","content-type":"text\/html","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/content\/pdf\/10.1186\/s13071-024-06525-w.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2024,11,12]],"date-time":"2024-11-12T18:04:31Z","timestamp":1731434671000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/parasitesandvectors.biomedcentral.com\/articles\/10.1186\/s13071-024-06525-w"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2024,11,12]]},"references-count":27,"journal-issue":{"issue":"1","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,12]]}},"alternative-id":["6525"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1186\/s13071-024-06525-w","relation":{},"ISSN":["1756-3305"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1756-3305","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2024,11,12]]},"assertion":[{"value":"15 April 2024","order":1,"name":"received","label":"Received","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"5 October 2024","order":2,"name":"accepted","label":"Accepted","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"12 November 2024","order":3,"name":"first_online","label":"First Online","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"order":1,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Declarations"}},{"value":"No IACUC or IRB approval was needed for this study design, in accordance with Texas Tech University\u2019s IACUC policies. They were consulted in regard to this study and set up.","order":2,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Ethics approval and consent to participate"}},{"value":"All authors consent to publication in Parasites and Vectors.","order":3,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Consent for publication"}},{"value":"Ashley Steuer is now employed by Zois, however, at the time of study design and conduct, was under the employ of Texas Tech University.","order":4,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Competing interests"}}],"article-number":"465"}}