title: Comparison of conventional coproscopical methods and commercial coproantigen ELISA kits for the detection of Giardia and Cryptosporidium infections in dogs and cats.
abstract: Faecal samples of 270 dogs and 100 cats from 3 animal shelters in Germany were comparatively examined using conventional coproscopical methods and commercial coproantigen ELISA kits for the detection of Giardia and Cryptosporidium infections. Giardia cysts were found in 9.5% and 0% of the faecal samples in dogs and cats, respectively, examined once using the ZnCl2-NaCl flotation. However, the Giardia coproantigen ELISA (ProSpecT Giardia Microplate Assay) was positive in 29.5% and 22.4% of the samples from dogs and cats, respectively. Direct faecal smears stained with carbol fuchsin showed Cryptosporidium oocysts in one dog (0.4%) and one cat (1%). In contrast, the Cryptosporidium coproantigen ELISA (ProSpecT Cryptosporidium Microplate Assay) reacted positively in 23% of the samples from dogs and 30% of the samples from cats. Both coproantigen ELISAs were more often positive in coproscopically Giardia-negative canine faecal samples that contained Isospora burrowsi/ohioensis oocysts than in faecal samples without any parasite stage. Possible reasons for these observations are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Uludağ University, Bursa, Turkey. vcirak@uludag.edu.tr
authors.forename: Veli Y
authors.initials: VY
authors.lastname: Cirak
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bauer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000469:parasitology; D002415:Cats; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D003458:Cryptosporidium / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000469:parasitology; D004285:Dogs; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005872:Giardia / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005873:Giardiasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic / Q000662:veterinary; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic