title: Comparison of two commercial rapid in-clinic serological tests for detection of antibodies against Leishmania spp. in dogs.
abstract: Antibodies against Leishmania spp. are detected in most dogs with clinical signs of leishmaniasis due to Leishmania infantum. Accurate, rapid in-clinic serological tests may permit immediate confirmation of the diagnosis and implementation of therapeutic measures. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of 2 commercial, rapid in-clinic serological tests for the detection of anti-Leishmania antibodies in sera of dogs, the Snap Canine Leishmania Antibody Test kit (IDEXX Laboratories Inc., Westbrook, Maine) and the ImmunoRun Antibody Detection kit (Biogal Galed Labs, Kibbutz Galed, Israel), using indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) as the reference method. A total of 109 sera collected from 65 seropositive and 44 seronegative dogs were used. The sensitivities of the Snap and ImmunoRun kits were 89.23% (95% confidence interval: 79.05-95.54%) and 86.15% (95% confidence interval: 75.33-93.45%), respectively, and the specificity of both tests was 100%. A good agreement between each of the rapid in-clinic serological tests and IFAT and between the 2 rapid in-clinic serological tests was witnessed. Both rapid in-clinic serological tests showed an adequate diagnostic accuracy and can be used for the fast detection of antibodies against L. infantum in dogs.
authors.affiliation: 1Labrini V. Athanasiou, Clinic of Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Thessaly, 224 Trikalon Street, GR-43100 Karditsa, Greece. lathan@vet.uth.gr.
authors.forename: Labrini V
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Athanasiou
authors.forename: Theodoros A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Petanides
authors.forename: Manolis K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Chatzis
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kasabalis
authors.forename: Kosmas N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Apostolidis
authors.forename: Manolis N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Saridomichelakis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004285:Dogs; D007891:Leishmania / Q000276:immunology*; D007896:Leishmaniasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic / Q000662:veterinary; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012698:Serologic Tests / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic
keywords: Antibodies; Leishmania infantum; dogs; rapid in-clinic test; serology