A Novel Molecular Test to Diagnose Canine Visceral Leishmaniasis at the Point of Care.

ABSTRACT: Dogs are the principal reservoir hosts of zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis (VL) but current serological methods are not sensitive enough to detect all subclinically infected animals, which is crucial to VL control programs. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods have greater sensitivity but require expensive equipment and trained personnel, impairing its implementation in endemic areas. We developed a diagnostic test that uses isothermal recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) to detect Leishmania infantum. This method was coupled with lateral flow (LF) reading with the naked eye to be adapted as a point-of-care test. The L. infantum RPA-LF had an analytical sensitivity similar to real time-PCR, detecting DNA of 0.1 parasites spiked in dog blood, which was equivalent to 40 parasites/mL.

SUBMITTER: Castellanos-Gonzalez A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4703275 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature