Performance of a commercially available in-clinic ELISA for the detection of antibodies against Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Ehrlichia canis, and Borrelia burgdorferi and Dirofilaria immitis antigen in dogs.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of a commercially available in-clinic ELISA for detection of heartworm infection and tick-borne diseases in dogs.


METHODS
846 serum, plasma, or blood samples obtained from dogs.


METHODS
Samples were evaluated via the in-clinic ELISA to detect antibodies against Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Ehrlichia canis, and Borrelia burgdorferi and Dirofilaria immitis (heartworm) antigen. True infection or immunologic status of samples was assessed by use of results of necropsy, an antigen assay for D immitis, and immunofluorescence assay or western blot analysis for antibodies against B burgdorferi, E canis, and A phagocytophilum.


RESULTS
Sensitivity and specificity of the in-clinic ELISA for detection of heartworm antigen (99.2% and 100%, respectively), antibodies against B burgdorferi (98.8% and 100%, respectively), and antibodies against E canis (96.2% and 100%, respectively) were similar to results for a similar commercial ELISA. In samples obtained from dogs in the northeast and upper Midwest of the United States, sensitivity and specificity of the in-clinic ELISA for antibodies against Anaplasma spp were 99.1% and 100%, respectively, compared with results for an immunofluorescence assay. Samples from 2 dogs experimentally infected with the NY18 strain of A phagocytophilum were tested by use of the in-clinic ELISA, and antibodies against A phagocytophilum were detected by 8 days after inoculation. Antibodies against Anaplasma platys in experimentally infected dogs cross-reacted with the A phagocytophilum analyte. Coinfections were identified in several of the canine serum samples.


CONCLUSIONS
The commercially available in-clinic ELISA could be used by veterinarians to screen dogs for heartworm infection and for exposure to tick-borne pathogens.
Immunoassay R&D, IDEXX Laboratories, 1 IDEXX Dr, Westbrook, ME 04092, USA. chandra@idexx.com
Ramaswamy
R
Chandrashekar
Celine A
CA
Mainville
Melissa J
MJ
Beall
Thomas
T
O'Connor
Matthew D
MD
Eberts
A Rick
AR
Alleman
Stephen D
SD
Gaunt
Edward B
EB
Breitschwerdt
D041081:Anaplasma phagocytophilum / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D025065:Borrelia burgdorferi / Q000276:immunology*; D004183:Dirofilaria immitis / Q000276:immunology*; D004184:Dirofilariasis / Q000276:immunology; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D004285:Dogs; D041061:Ehrlichia canis / Q000276:immunology*; D016873:Ehrlichiosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods* / Q000662:veterinary; D008193:Lyme Disease / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary; D017282:Tick-Borne Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth