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Preliminary Study of an Immunochromatography Test for Serological Diagnosis of Canine Brucellosis
Author(s) -
Wanke MM,
Cairó F,
Rossano M,
Laiño M,
Baldi PC,
Monachesi NE,
Comercio EA,
Vivot MM
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
reproduction in domestic animals
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.546
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1439-0531
pISSN - 0936-6768
DOI - 10.1111/rda.12108
Subject(s) - brucellosis , serology , medicine , direct agglutination test , ouchterlony double immunodiffusion , positive predicative value , immunology , gastroenterology , pathology , antibody , predictive value , antiserum
Contents The most widely used screening test for the diagnosis of brucellosis in the dog is the rapid slide agglutination test in the presence of 2‐mercaptoethanol (2 ME ‐ RSAT ). The diagnosis is partially confirmed by the agar gel immunodiffusion test ( AGID ) and definitively confirmed by bacteriological isolation. Some chronic cases not detected by these tests may be detected by ELISA tests. The use of 2 ME ‐ RSAT in routine clinical practice requires a microscope and an experienced operator. An immunochromatographic diagnostic test for canine brucellosis ( FAST est ®B rucella c ., M egacor, H örbranz, A ustria) has been recently released. In this study, we compared the diagnostic performance of the FAST est with those of 2 ME ‐ RSAT , AGID and ELISA s. Sera from 17 healthy dogs used as negative controls yielded negative results by FAST est, indicating a 100% specificity in this sample. Among 27 sera of dogs with acute or subacute brucellosis confirmed by B . canis isolation, all of which were positive by RSAT and ELISA s, the FAST est was positive in 24 cases and AGID in 23. In acute and subacute cases, the sensitivity of FASTest was 89%. Sera from six dogs with bacteriologically confirmed chronic brucellosis, which were positive by ELISA s but negative by 2 ME ‐ RSAT , were also tested; 1 was positive by FAST est and 4 were positive by AGID . These preliminary results indicate a good specificity of the FAST est (100% in this sample) but an unacceptable sensitivity as a screening test. In cases with chronic brucellosis, the sensitivity of the FAST est was lower than that of ELISA s but this assay could make a good intermediate test to be run after a positive RSAT and before running an AGID .