Year 2010 - Volume 30, Number 4


Title
Evaluation of follicular lymphoid depletion in the Bursa of Fabricius: An alternative methodology using digital image analysis and artificial neural networks, 30(4):340-344
Authors

Abstract
ABSTRACT.- Moraes L.B., Osório F.S., Salle F.O., Souza G.F., Moraes H.L.S., Fallavena L.C.B., Nascimento V.P., Santos L.R. & Salle C.T.P. 2010. Evaluation of follicular lymphoid depletion in the Bursa of Fabricius: An alternative methodology using digital image analysis and artificial neural networks. Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira 30(4):340-344. Departamento de Medicina Animal, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Avenida Bento Gonçalves 8824, Porto Alegre, RS 91540-000, Brazil. E-mail: lucasbmoraes@gmail.com

Fifty Bursa of Fabricius (BF) were examined by conventional optical microscopy and digital images were acquired and processed using Matlab® 6.5 software. The Artificial Neuronal Network (ANN) was generated using Neuroshell® Classifier software and the optical and digital data were compared. The ANN was able to make a comparable classification of digital and optical scores. The use of ANN was able to classify correctly the majority of the follicles, reaching sensibility and specificity of 89% and 96%, respectively. When the follicles were scored and grouped in a binary fashion the sensibility increased to 90% and obtained the maximum value for the specificity of 92%. These results demonstrate that the use of digital image analysis and ANN is a useful tool for the pathological classification of the BF lymphoid depletion. In addition it provides objective results that allow measuring the dimension of the error in the diagnosis and classification therefore making comparison between databases feasible.
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