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Sniffer dogs able to detect malaria in people by smelling socks, study finds
Tom Barnes
The Independent 29 October 2018
Dogs could be trained to detect malaria in humans by sniffing their socks, new research suggests.
Scientists believe the findings of the new study, the first in which animals have demonstrated the ability to identify a parasitic infection, could potentially lead to the first rapid and non-invasive test for the disease.
Researchers hope sniffer dogs could be trained to stop malaria spreading across borders and help those suffering from the condition receive earlier treatment.
?While our findings are at an early stage, in principle we have shown that dogs could be trained to detect malaria infected people by their odour with a credible degree of accuracy,? said Prof Steve Lindsay, of Durham University, one of the scientists behind the project.
?This could provide a non-invasive way of screening for the disease at ports of entry in a similar way to how sniffer dogs are routinely used to detect fruit and vegetables or drugs at airports...
Sniffer dogs able to detect malaria in people by smelling socks, study finds
Tom Barnes
The Independent 29 October 2018
Dogs could be trained to detect malaria in humans by sniffing their socks, new research suggests.
Scientists believe the findings of the new study, the first in which animals have demonstrated the ability to identify a parasitic infection, could potentially lead to the first rapid and non-invasive test for the disease.
Researchers hope sniffer dogs could be trained to stop malaria spreading across borders and help those suffering from the condition receive earlier treatment.
?While our findings are at an early stage, in principle we have shown that dogs could be trained to detect malaria infected people by their odour with a credible degree of accuracy,? said Prof Steve Lindsay, of Durham University, one of the scientists behind the project.
?This could provide a non-invasive way of screening for the disease at ports of entry in a similar way to how sniffer dogs are routinely used to detect fruit and vegetables or drugs at airports...