Analysis of menisci formed on cones for single field of view parasite egg microscopy

Abstract

Parasite ova caused to accumulate in a single microscopic field simplifies monitoring soil-transmitted helminthiasis by optical microscopy. Here we demonstrate new egg-accumulating geometries based on annular menisci formed on the surface of a wetted cone. Fluidic features extracted from profile images of the system provided mathematical representations of the meniscus gradient that were compared quantitatively to numerical solutions of an axisymmetric Young-Laplace equation. Our results show that the governing dynamics of these systems is dominated by the surface tension of the fluid. These image analysis and mathematical tools provide simple quantitative methods for system analysis and optimization.