Identification, characterization and manipulation of Babesia-bovis-infected red blood cells using microfluidics technology.

Nowadays numerous microfluidic systems are being developed to address a variety of clinical problems. Latest advances in microfluidic technology are promising to revolutionize the detection of pathogens in vivo through the development of integrated lab-on-chip devices. Such microfabricated systems will undertake all steps in sample analysis from collection and preparation to molecular detection. Micro total analysis systems are suitable candidates for point of care diagnostics due to small size, low cost production and enabled portability. The work here presented aimed the use of microfluidic platforms to identify and manipulate bovine red blood cells infected by the protozoan parasite Babesia bovis. A microfabricated device based on impedance spectroscopy was used for single cell discrimination and its sensitivity and applicability as a diagnostic method for bovine babesiosis was studied. Furthermore, manipulation and sorting of normal and infected red blood cells was performed on a dielectrophoresis based microfabricated cell cytometer. Single cell analysis of normal and B. bovis infected red blood cells was performed by electrorotation and dielectric parameters such as permittivities and conductivities of the cellular membrane and cytoplasm were determined.