Are antigen test kits efficient for detecting heartworm-infected dogs at the southern distribution limit of the parasite in South America? Preliminary results.
Res Vet Sci
; 85(1): 113-5, 2008 Aug.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-17881020
The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of commercial heartworm antigen tests in dogs harbouring Dirofilaria immitis microfilariae near its distribution limit in South America. A total of 4934 blood samples of adult dogs from Southern Greater Buenos Aires were examined to detect circulating microfilariae in the buffy coat interface between December 2005 and April 2006. Microfilariae were detected in 88 (1.8%) blood samples and all the microfilariae observed were identified as D. immitis by acid phosphatase stain technique. In a first trial, 69 (78.4%) out of the 88 serum were positive by Speed((R)) Diro. Then, a new test was performed over 25 microfilariae-positive serum samples randomly selected among the 88 previously tested samples and using simultaneously Speed((R)) Diro, Witness((R)) Dirofilaria and Snap((R)) 3dx. This second trial showed identical results for the three different tests, in which 19 (76%) samples were positive. Therefore, more than 20% of microfilaremic dogs were antigen negative. The main hypothesis that could explain our finding is a low worm burden in the study area. According to our preliminary results, it is highly recommendable the complementary use of antigen tests and other procedures to obtain an accurate diagnostic near the distribution limit of the parasite.
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Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Kit de Reagentes para Diagnóstico
/
Dirofilariose
/
Doenças do Cão
Tipo de estudo:
Prognostic_studies
Limite:
Animals
País/Região como assunto:
America do sul
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Res Vet Sci
Ano de publicação:
2008
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Argentina
País de publicação:
Reino Unido