title: Semi-quantitative measurement of asymptomatic L. infantum infection and symptomatic visceral leishmaniasis in dogs using Dual-Path Platform® CVL.
abstract: Infection with Leishmania causes diseases with variable presentation. The most severe form is visceral leishmaniasis (VL), caused by either L. donovani or L. infantum. Despite efforts to eliminate VL, to date, molecular detection in resource-poor settings have lacked the accuracy and rapidity that would enable widespread field use and the need for accurate, sensitive assays to detect asymptomatic Leishmania infection has become apparent. The domestic dog serves as the primary reservoir host of L. infantum. Study of this reservoir population provides an opportunity to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of diagnostics for well-defined, symptomatic, canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) and asymptomatic L. infantum infection. Blood samples from an L. infantum-endemic population of US hunting dogs were evaluated with Dual-Path Platform (DPP®) CVL compared to those obtained via direct detection methods (culture- and Leishmania-specific quantitative polymerase chain reaction, qPCR) and immunofluorescence anti-Leishmania antibody test (IFAT). Statistically significant correlations were found between DPP® CVL development time and clinical status, culture status, circulating DNA levels, and IFAT titer. DPP® CVL results correlated with both clinical severity of disease and serological evidence of asymptomatic L. infantum infection. By precisely documenting the minimum time required for the development of a clear positive result in DPP® CVL, this test could be used in a rapid, semi-quantitative manner for the evaluation of asymptomatic and symptomatic CVL. Our results also indicate that a similar test could be used to improve our understanding of human VL.
authors: Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA.
authors: Mandy
authors: M
authors: Larson
authors: Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA.
authors: Angela
authors: A
authors: Toepp
authors: Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA.
authors: Benjamin
authors: B
authors: Scott
authors: Immunology Program, Department of Internal Medicine and Microbiology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA.
authors: Melissa
authors: M
authors: Kurtz
authors: Immunology Program, Department of Internal Medicine and Microbiology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA.
authors: Hailie
authors: H
authors: Fowler
authors: Chembio Diagnostic Systems, Inc., 3661 Horseblock Road, Medford, NY, 11763, USA.
authors: Javan
authors: J
authors: Esfandiari
authors: Infectious Disease Research Institute, 1616 Eastlake Ave E., Suite 400, Seattle, WA, 98102, USA.
authors: Randall F
authors: RF
authors: Howard
authors: Infectious Disease Research Institute, 1616 Eastlake Ave E., Suite 400, Seattle, WA, 98102, USA.
authors: Aarthy C
authors: AC
authors: Vallur
authors: Infectious Disease Research Institute, 1616 Eastlake Ave E., Suite 400, Seattle, WA, 98102, USA.
authors: Malcolm S
authors: MS
authors: Duthie
authors: Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA. christine-petersen@uiowa.edu.|Immunology Program, Department of Internal Medicine and Microbiology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA. christine-petersen@uiowa.edu.|Department of Epidemiology, University of Iowa College of Public Health, S429 CPHB, 145 N. Riverside Dr, Iowa City, IA, 52241, USA. christine-petersen@uiowa.edu.
authors: Christine
authors: C
authors: Petersen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D058070:Asymptomatic Diseases; D001769:Blood / Q000469:parasitology*; D002846:Chromatography, Affinity / Q000379:methods*; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine / Q000379:methods*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D004285:Dogs; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique / Q000379:methods; D018314:Leishmania infantum / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D016054:DNA, Protozoan
keywords: Diagnosis; Leishmania; Public health; Quantitative; Serology; Zoonotic