Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Detecting Anaplasma phagocytophilum antibodies in dogs with automated
By Moroff, Scott et al.·Published in Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997)·2014·Antech Laboratories, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Detection of antibodies against Anaplasma phagocytophilum in dogs using an automated fluorescence based system.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs exposed to ticks were tested for an infection caused by Anaplasma phagocytophilum, which can make them very sick. Researchers collected blood samples from these dogs and found that 22 out of 36 had the infection confirmed through a DNA test. Interestingly, the DNA test showed positive results before any antibodies were detected in the blood, indicating that the infection was present even when antibody tests were negative. The study suggests that if a dog shows symptoms of anaplasmosis but antibody tests come back negative, a DNA test might be a better option for diagnosis.
People also search for: dog tick infection symptoms · Anaplasma phagocytophilum treatment · dog blood test for tick diseases
Abstract
Infection with Anaplasma phagocytophilum can cause significant illness in some dogs and accurate diagnostic assays are needed. The objectives of the study were to optimize an automated fluorescence system for the detection of antibodies against A. phagocytophilum in canine serum. Serum and blood was collected temporally from seven dogs inoculated parenterally with culture-derived A. phagocytophilum and from 36 dogs exposed to wild-caught, adult Ixodes scapularis for 7 days. The system was optimized using the samples from the parenterally inoculated dogs. The ability to detect antibodies against A. phagocytophilum in the I. scapularis exposed dogs by the automated system was compared with a diagnostic kit (ELISA) and an indirect fluorescent antibody assay (IFA). Each blood sample was also assayed for A. phagocytophilum DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Of the 36 dogs exposed to I. scapularis, A. phagocytophilum DNA was amplified from blood from 22 dogs by PCR with first positive results occurring on weeks 1 (seven dogs), 2 (nine dogs), 3 (four dogs), 4 (one dog), or 5 (one dog). PCR results were positive prior to detection of antibodies in any of the three antibody assays for 19 dogs. The automated fluorescence system and IFA detected antibodies against A. phagocytophilum earlier than the ELISA. In conclusion, A. phagocytophilum PCR assays on blood are indicated in dogs with suspected acute anaplasmosis if serum antibody assays are negative.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25312718/