Impact of heat treatment on Dirofilaria immitis antigen detection in shelter dogs.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The diagnosis and management of canine heartworm disease is a growing concern for shelter veterinarians. Although the accuracy of commercial antigen test kits has been widely studied, recent reports have renewed interest in antigen blocking as a causative factor for false "no antigen detected" results. The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of false "no antigen detected" results in adult dogs entering shelters in northern, southern, and western regions of the country and to identify historical and clinical risk factors for such results.

Methods

Serum samples were evaluated for Dirofilaria immitis antigen using a commercially available point-of-care ELISA; samples in which no antigen was detected underwent a heat treatment protocol and repeat

SUBMITTER: DiGangi BA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5688474 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature