title: Evaluation of a rapid device for serological in-clinic diagnosis of canine angiostrongylosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Angiostrongylus vasorum is a potentially fatal canine nematode. Due to the high variability of clinical signs and the often chronic and subtle course of the infections, the diagnosis is particularly challenging. A rapid in-clinic assay (Angio Detect Test, IDEXX Laboratories, Westbrook, Maine, USA) for the serological detection of circulating antigen and intended for routine in-clinic diagnosis has been evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sensitivity was calculated with sera from 39 naturally infected dogs confirmed by Baermann-Wetzel analysis, while sera of 38 experimentally infected dogs were used for follow-up analyses, of which 10 were treated with imidacloprid/moxidectin. Cross-reactivity was tested with a total of 123 samples from dogs with proven parasitic infections with Toxocara canis (n = 21), Ancylostoma caninum (n = 4), Crenosoma vulpis (n = 18), Oslerus osleri (n = 3), Eucoleus aerophilus, (n = 6), Dirofilaria immitis (n = 28), Dirofilaria repens (n = 20), Acantocheilonema reconditum (n = 10) or Dipetalonema dracunculoides (n = 10) or multiple infections (n = 3). All sera were tested with the Angio Detect Test and with an ELISA for detection of circulating antigen of A. vasorum.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sensitivity of the Angio Detect Test was 84.6% (95% C.I. 69.5 - 94.1%), while specificity was 100% (95% C.I. 97.6 - 100%). The sensitivity of the ELISA (94.9%, 95% C.I. 82.7 - 99.3%) was comparable with previous evaluations. In experimentally infected dogs, earliest positive results with the Angio Detect Test were observed 9 weeks post inoculation and 5 weeks later all sera were Angio Detect Test positive. After anthelmintic treatment, seropositive dogs turned negative again within 3 to 7 weeks after treatment. The evaluation of the colour intensity of the test strips confirmed the delay of approximately 3-4 weeks for antigen detection by the Angio Detect™ Test compared to the ELISA and its correlation with the time after infection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provided evidence of a good sensitivity and a very high specificity of the rapid device Angio Detect Test for detection of circulating A. vasorum antigen in dogs with suspected canine angiostrongylosis, representing a very simple and useful tool to be broadly applied in veterinary practices. The rapid detection of infected dogs is a key point for initiating an indispensable and urgent therapy.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, Zürich 8057, Switzerland. manuela.schnyder@uzh.ch.
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schnyder
authors.forename: Kathrina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Stebler
authors.forename: Torsten J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Naucke
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lorentz
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Deplazes
mesh_terms: D000801:Angiostrongylus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000818:Animals; D000947:Antigens, Helminth / Q000097:blood*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000469:parasitology; D004285:Dogs; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D017206:Strongylida Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000947:Antigens, Helminth; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic