Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How to detect Toxocara canis infection in pet dogs using LAMP test
By Khoshakhlagh, Paria et al.·Published in Parasitology research·2017·Tabriz University of Medical Sciences·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Loop-mediated isothermal amplification as a reliable assay for Toxocara canis infection in pet dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of pet dogs in Northwest Iran was tested for a common parasite called Toxocara canis, which can be harmful to both dogs and humans. The study found that the most effective method for detecting this parasite was a new test called LAMP, which was ten times more sensitive than the traditional PCR test. The highest rates of infection were found in non-dewormed puppies under three months old. This highlights the importance of regular deworming for pet dogs to prevent infection and potential transmission to humans.
People also search for: dog parasite testing · Toxocara canis symptoms in dogs · puppy deworming schedule
Abstract
Keeping of infected dogs as pet results in the potential transmission risk factors for shedding helminthic infections such as toxocariasis. Lack of accurate identification of Toxocara canis eggs in non-dewormed infected pet dogs remains a diagnostic concern among researchers. In this study, dog owners were asked to fill up a questionnaire regarding their pets and their attitude towards the deworming regimen. One hundred faecal samples were collected from pet dogs (Northwest Iran) and were subsequently identified by the ZnSo4 flotation technique, PCR and loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assays. The DNA of the recovered T. canis eggs was then extracted and amplified by LAMP and PCR. Furthermore, ITS2 amplicons were sequenced for appraisal of the phylogenetic analysis. Nine, 5 and 11% of T. canis infections were identified by microscopy, PCR and LAMP, respectively. It was detected that LAMP was 10 times (10to 10 g/μl) more sensitive than PCR (10to 10 g/μl). The kappa value between LAMP and PCR indicated a faint concurrence (0.463). The kappa coefficient between LAMP and flotation technique indicated a strong agreement (0.667). The highest infection rate (n = 11) was detected in non-dewormed pet dogs, particularly those less than 3 months old (P < 0.05). None of the infected dogs had a history of walking and kennelled behaviours in public places. The LAMP assay can address as a simple, rapid and highly sensitive technique for detecting low burden of T. canis eggs in infected pet dogs. It was proposed that the dog holder's awareness is insufficient to implement regular deworming schedules. Additionally, regional policymakers should broadly revise anthelmintic treatment guidelines.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28689247/