Abstract
Comparative electric behavior of Cysticercus tenuicollis, Hydatid cyst and Coenurus cerebralis at the Very Low Frequency (VLF) region has been studied in detail. This investigation could be significant, because of the economic and public health importance of these parasitic infections in domestic animals. In this report, a single cell signal recording technique has been adopted for comparison using a stainless steel (type: 316, diameter: ~ 300 µm, height: 2.00 cm) two identical electrode system, implanted on the surface of the tested cysts with inter electrode distance of 0.50 cm at a ~ 6.0 giga ohm (GΩ) sealed condition (based on the situation of the implanted electrode system). This process was achieved based on applying electrical interaction between the cysts and the VLF electrical signal. Relative to the measured time domain signal (Current-time diagram), the frequency domain (Current-frequency diagram) was estimated via applying a "Discrete Fast Fourier Transform" (DFFT) algorithm at a fixed time interval (5.0 min). Factors, having important influence on the sensitivity of the detection system including the type (waveform) of different alternating-current (AC) triggering stimulus signals (such as direct current, square wave, triangular, sin (t), etc.), the amplitude, as well as the frequency were optimized automatically through a written "Visual Basic 6" program by one-factor-at-a-time method. Direct applying this AC triggering VLF voltage to the cysts resulted in tracing an AC electrical current vs. time that considered as the time domain wave. However, this electrical current was decayed rapidly versus time during maximum 30.0 s time scale. Applying the DFFT algorithm to the measured time domain, resulted in accessing to the frequency domain at the selected frequency range between 2 and 5 kHz that was considered as the selected frequency for the selective differentiation of C. tenuicollis, Hydatid cyst and C. cerebralis. The related probable mechanism of this process may be attributed to the correlation between the triggering potential and the cyst's electrical surface charge (Zeta potential) as the current source under similar conditions. The results of this study may help to introduce a new detection system for in vivo recognition of the cysts in future.