Methods for diagnosing zika virus

Abstract

A computer implemented method of diagnosing whether a human subject is infected with Zika virus, includes: determining a correlation between a fundus test image of an eye of the human subject for presence of gross macular pigment mottling with a known set of Zika virus infected fundus images and with a known set of healthy fundus images, wherein a high correlation / low correlation between the fundus test image and the known set of Zika virus infected fundus images indicates that there is a high probability / low probability that the human subject is infected with Zika virus, wherein a high correlation / low correlation between the fundus test image and the known set of healthy fundus images indicates that there is a low probability / high probability that the human subject is infected with Zika virus.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention generally relates to Zika virus, and more particularly, to methods for diagnosing Zika virus in a human subject through fundus images.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Zika virus is a member of the virus family Flaviviridae. It is spread by daytime-active Aedes mosquitoes, such as A. aegypti and A. albopictus. Its name comes from the Zika Forest of Uganda, where the virus was first isolated in 1947. Zika virus is related to the dengue, yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis, and West Nile viruses. Since the 1950s, it has been known to occur within a narrow equatorial belt from Africa to Asia. After being bitten, infected humans become the main carriers of Zika virus. The virus can spread farther and quicker due to human movement. For example, from 2007 to 2016, the virus spread eastward, across the Pacific Ocean to, the Americas, leading to the 2015-2016 Zika virus epidemic.[0003]The infection, known as Zika fever or Zika virus...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

This patent describes a computer program that uses fundus images to estimate the likelihood of a human subject being infected with Zika virus. The program analyzes the fundus images and compares them to known sets of Zica virus-infected and healthy images. This analysis can identify specific patterns in the fundus image that indicate a high or low probability of infection. The program can also determine if the person's eye has a certain ratio of the cup to disk, which is associated with a higher likelihood of infection. Additionally, the program can identify regions of optic disc hypoplasia, which indicates a high likelihood of infection. Overall, this technology can help to accurately assess the risk of Zana virus infection based on fundus images.

Problems solved by technology

As of 2016, the illness cannot be prevented by any medications or vaccines.

Zika virus can spread through blood transfusion, sexual intercourse, and from a pregnant woman to her unborn baby, often resulting in microcephaly, severe brain damage and malformations, and other birth defects.

As the Zika virus epidemic progresses, the world remains unprepared to contain this threat as well as other similar mosquito-borne viral diseases, which can spontaneously become an epidemic in days.

In a survey published by the Wall Street Journal, it was concluded that even the U.S. is not prepared to handle the demand for Zika virus testing in case of an actual epidemic.

The current Zika virus testing method takes approximately 4-14 days; a time span that is completely unrealistic in the case of an epidemic occurring.

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