title: Usefulness of a rapid immuno-migration test for the detection of canine monocytic ehrlichiosis in Africa.
abstract: A rapid immuno-migration test for the serological detection of canine monocytic ehrlichiosis, Witness® Ehrlichia (WE) (Zoetis, France), was evaluated in 528 serum samples from dogs living in endemic areas of West and East Africa: Senegal (N=208), Ivory Coast (N=7), Sudan (N=27), and Djibouti (N=286). Of these dogs, 200 were French military working dogs (MWD) temporarily residing in Africa. The WE test results were compared with those obtained by indirect immunofluorescence (IFA). The sensitivity of WE was 97% [94.2, 98.7] with a specificity of 100% [98.6, 100]. In MWD, the seroprevalence (IFA) was 7%; in native dogs, it reached 77.1%. This significant difference can be explained by prophylactic measures from which MWD benefit. The WE test represents a simple, fast and reliable test for the detection of anti-Ehrlichia canis antibodies. Its implementation for the diagnosis of clinical cases has been validated in the field, and its use allows easy detection of asymptomatic dogs that may be carriers of E. canis.
authors.affiliation: Research Unit of Emerging Infectious and Tropical Diseases (URMITE), UMR CNRS 7278 IRD 198, Aix-Marseille-Université, Marseille, France; Animal Epidemiology Working Group of the Military Health Service, Toulon, France. Electronic address: bernard.davoust@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Davoust
authors.affiliation: UMR - MD3, Faculté de pharmacie, Aix-Marseille-Université, Marseille, France; Institut de recherche biomédicale des armées, Brétigny, France.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Parzy
authors.affiliation: Animal Epidemiology Working Group of the Military Health Service, Toulon, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Paul
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Demoncheaux
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Services of the National Gendarmerie, Dakar, Senegal.
authors.forename: Raphaël
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tine
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Services of the National Gendarmerie, Dakar, Senegal.
authors.forename: Mamadou
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Diarra
authors.affiliation: Animal Epidemiology Working Group of the Military Health Service, Toulon, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Lou
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Marié
authors.affiliation: Research Unit of Emerging Infectious and Tropical Diseases (URMITE), UMR CNRS 7278 IRD 198, Institute of Research for the Development, Dakar, Senegal.
authors.forename: Oleg
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Mediannikov
mesh_terms: D000349:Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D002846:Chromatography, Affinity / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D004285:Dogs; D004536:Ehrlichia / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016873:Ehrlichiosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial
keywords: Diagnostic; Dog; Ehrlichia canis; Immunochromatography; Indirect immunofluorescence test; Rapid immunomigration