title: [Evaluation of an immunochromatographic dipstick test for the assessment of tetanus immunity in horses].
abstract: Knowledge of tetanus immunity in equine patients is crucial in cases of injuries, elective surgeries, or when effective vaccination protocols are to be designed. The Fassisi® TetaCheck is a stall-side rapid test which was developed to address these issues. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate its performance parameters. To this end, the qualitative test results obtained by two blinded observers were compared to tetanus toxoid antibody levels from 99 serum samples, measured with a double antigen ELISA. Additionally the colour intensities of the test window were quantified using a camera and photo editing software. Assuming that the protective level of tetanus toxoid antibodies is ≥ 0.1 IE/ml, the tetanus quick stick (TQS) showed a sensitivity of 83.6% and a specificity of 100%. almost perfect (K = 0.88). Exchanging the observer did not affect the interpretation of theTQS (K = 0.80; K = 0.84). The definition of five distinct colour intensities of the "test window" enabled a clear differentiation of unprotected individuals from those with a protective immunity. There was a linear relationship between the objectively measured colour intensities and the tetanus toxoid antibody concentration (r2 = 0.74). The TQS thus proved to be a robust and reliable test in the stall-side assessment of tetanus immunity in horses. Its implementation in equine daily practice can help to avoid unnecessary immunizations in adult horses and therefore minimize vaccination side effects.
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Recknagel
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Snyder
authors.forename: Annemarie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Blanke
authors.forename: Albrecht
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Uhlig
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Brüser
authors.forename: Gerald Fritz
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Schusser
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D002846:Chromatography, Affinity / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D003017:Clostridium tetani / Q000276:immunology; D004867:Equipment Design; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D006736:Horses; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic / Q000662:veterinary*; D013742:Tetanus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013744:Tetanus Toxin / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D013744:Tetanus Toxin