title: Comparison of two assays for detection of antibodies against canine parvovirus and canine distemper virus in dogs admitted to a Florida animal shelter.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare 2 assays for use in the identification of dogs with a protective antibody titer (PAT) against canine parvovirus (CPV) and canine distemper virus (CDV).
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  431 dogs admitted to a municipal animal shelter in north central Florida.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood samples were collected from dogs on the day of admission to the shelter. Serum was obtained, criterion-referenced assays were used to identify dogs that had PATs against CPV (titers ≥ 80; hemagglutination inhibition assay) and CDV (titers ≥ 32; virus neutralization assay), and results were compared with results of a semiquantitative ELISA and an immunofluorescence assay (IFA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  For correct identification of dogs that had PATs against viruses, the ELISA had significantly higher specificity for CPV (98%) and CDV (95%) than did the IFA (82% and 70%, respectively) and had significantly lower sensitivity for CDV (88%) than did the IFA (97%); the sensitivity for CPV was similar (ELISA, 98%; IFA, 97%). Overall diagnostic accuracy was significantly greater with the ELISA than with the IFA. Predictive value of a positive result for PATs was significantly higher with the ELISA for CPV (99%) and CDV (93%) than with the IFA (92% and 71%, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ELISA had fewer false-positive results than did the IFA and could be performed on-site in shelters in < 1 hour. Accuracy and practicality of the ELISA may be useful for identifying the infection risk of dogs exposed during outbreaks attributable to CPV and CDV infections in shelters.
authors.affiliation: Maddie's Shelter Medicine Program, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610.
authors.forename: Lauren K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.forename: P Cynda
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Crawford
authors.forename: Julie K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Levy
authors.forename: Edward J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Dubovi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D004216:Distemper / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D004217:Distemper Virus, Canine / Q000276:immunology; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D004285:Dogs; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida / Q000453:epidemiology; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards / Q000662:veterinary*; D006799:Housing, Animal; D008297:Male; D009500:Neutralization Tests / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards / Q000662:veterinary; D010322:Parvoviridae Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D017993:Parvovirus, Canine / Q000276:immunology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral