Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How blood and urine tests find leptospirosis in dogs with kidney
By Fraune, Claudia Kümmerle et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2013·Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Evaluation of the diagnostic value of serologic microagglutination testing and a polymerase chain reaction assay for diagnosis of acute leptospirosis in dogs in a referral center.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 76 dogs with acute kidney injury (AKI) was tested for leptospirosis, a serious infection that can affect their kidneys. Researchers used two methods: a blood test called the microagglutination test (MAT) and a PCR test on urine and blood samples. The MAT was found to be very accurate for diagnosing leptospirosis, especially when a follow-up blood sample was taken, but it wasn't as effective for early detection. Unfortunately, the PCR test did not provide any positive results in the dogs tested. This means that while the MAT can help confirm leptospirosis later on, it may not be reliable for early diagnosis, especially if the dog has already been treated with antibiotics.
People also search for: dog kidney injury symptoms · leptospirosis test for dogs · acute kidney injury in dogs treatment
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine the diagnostic value of a serologic microagglutination test (MAT) and a PCR assay on urine and blood for the diagnosis of leptospirosis in dogs with acute kidney injury (AKI). DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. Animals-76 dogs with AKI in a referral hospital (2008 to 2009). PROCEDURES: Dogs' leptospirosis status was defined with a paired serologic MAT against a panel of 11 Leptospira serovars as leptospirosis-associated (n = 30) or nonleptospirosis-associated AKI (12). In 34 dogs, convalescent serologic testing was not possible, and leptospirosis status was classified as undetermined. The diagnostic value of the MAT single acute or convalescent blood sample was determined in dogs in which leptospirosis status could be classified. The diagnostic value of a commercially available genus-specific PCR assay was evaluated by use of 36 blood samples and 20 urine samples. RESULTS: Serologic acute testing of an acute blood sample had a specificity of 100% (95% CI, 76% to 100%), a sensitivity of 50% (33% to 67%), and an accuracy of 64% (49% to 77%). Serologic testing of a convalescent blood sample had a specificity of 92% (65% to 99%), a sensitivity of 100% (87% to 100%), and an accuracy of 98% (88% to 100%). Results of the Leptospira PCR assay were negative for all samples from dogs for which leptospirosis status could be classified. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Serologic MAT results were highly accurate for diagnosis of leptospirosis in dogs, despite a low sensitivity for early diagnosis. In this referral setting of dogs pretreated with antimicrobials, testing of blood and urine samples with a commercially available genus-specific PCR assay did not improve early diagnosis.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23634681/