Fasciola gigantica, F. hepatica and Fasciola intermediate forms: geometric morphometrics and an artificial neural network to help morphological identification.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Fasciola hepatica and F. gigantica cause fascioliasis in both humans and livestock. Some adult specimens of Fasciola sp. referred to as "intermediate forms" based on their genetic traits, are also frequently reported. Simple morphological criteria are unreliable for their specific identification. In previous studies, promising phenotypic identification scores were obtained using morphometrics based on linear measurements (distances, angles, curves) between anatomical features. Such an approach is commonly termed "traditional" morphometrics, as opposed to "modern" morphometrics, which is based on the coordinates of anatomical points.

Methods

Here, we explored the possible improvements that modern methods of morphometrics, including landmark-bas

SUBMITTER: Sumruayphol S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7034386 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature