title: Evaluation of a rapid device for serological diagnosis of Leishmania infantum infection in dogs as an alternative to immunofluorescence assay and Western blotting.
abstract: In this study, we compared a rapid immunochromatographic test (Speed Leish K; BVT Groupe Virbac, La Seyne sur Mer, France) with an indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFAT) and Western blotting (WB) for the detection of Leishmania infantum antibodies in dogs. A total of 250 serum samples were collected from 125 L. infantum-positive and 125 L. infantum-negative dogs. Among the positive samples, 81 were strongly positive at low IFAT dilutions, while 44 were low-reactivity sera (IFAT titers, 1:40 to 1:80). The sensitivity and specificity of the Speed Leish K were 96.3% and 100%, respectively, compared with those of the IFAT. When IFAT low-reactivity sera (titers, 1:40 or 1:80) were tested with the Speed Leish K, using WB results as a reference, the sensitivities were 93.75% for sera with a 1:80 titer and 73.33% for sera with a 1:40 titer, and the specificity was 100%. The Speed Leish K is easy to use and performs well, so it can be considered a quick and reliable tool for the diagnosis of L. infantum infection in dogs.
authors: Dipartimento di Produzioni Animali, Epidemiologia ed Ecologia, Università di Torino, Torino, Italy. ezio.ferroglio@unito.it
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Ferroglio
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Zanet
authors: W
authors: W
authors: Mignone
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Poggi
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Trisciuoglio
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Bianciardi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D015153:Blotting, Western / Q000662:veterinary; D002846:Chromatography, Affinity / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D004285:Dogs; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect / Q000662:veterinary; D018314:Leishmania infantum / Q000276:immunology*; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan