Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Accuracy of DPP rapid test for diagnosing canine visceral
By Figueiredo, Fabiano Borges et al.·Published in Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz·2018·Fundaç·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Validation of the Dual-path Platform chromatographic immunoassay (DPP® CVL rapid test) for the serodiagnosis of canine visceral leishmaniasis.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study evaluated a new blood test for diagnosing visceral leishmaniasis in dogs, which is a serious disease that can affect both dogs and humans. The test showed 89% sensitivity, meaning it correctly identified most dogs with the disease, but only 70% specificity, indicating it sometimes gave false positives. This means that while the test is useful, especially for symptomatic dogs, it may not be as reliable for those showing no symptoms. The researchers suggest that while the test can help in identifying cases, improvements are needed for better accuracy in asymptomatic dogs.
People also search for: dog leishmaniasis symptoms · blood test for dog diseases · diagnosing leishmaniasis in dogs
Abstract
BACKGROUND Visceral leishmaniasis is a major public health challenge in South America, and dogs are its main urban reservoir. OBJECTIVE Validation of the canine Dual-path Platform immunoassay for canine visceral leishmaniasis (DPP® CVL) for a sample set composed of 1446 dogs from different Brazilian endemic areas. METHODS A well-defined reference standard by means of parasitological culture, immunohistochemistry, and histopathology was used. Animals were classified as asymptomatic, oligosymptomatic, or symptomatic. Sensitivity and specificity were assessed as a single set and in clinical groups. A reproducibility assessment of the tests was conducted using the Kappa (κ) index at three different laboratories (A, B, and C). FINDINGS Overall, 89% sensitivity and 70% specificity were obtained for the entire sample set. Analysis of the clinical groups showed a gradual decrease in the sensitivity and an increase in the specificity with the reduction of clinical signs in the dogs that were assessed, reaching a sensitivity of 75% (42.8-94.5%) among asymptomatic dogs and lower specificity of 56% (46.2-66.3%) among symptomatic dogs. Inter-laboratory agreement was substantial (κAB= 0.778; κAC= 0.645; κCB= 0.711). MAIN CONCLUSIONS The test performance is somewhat dependent on canine symptomatology, but such influence was less evident than in previous studies. Favourable results for sensitivity and specificity can be obtained even in asymptomatic animals; however, caution is needed in these evaluations, and the results suggest that the immunochromatographic test may be further improved for better investigation in asymptomatic dogs. The results obtained confirm the usefulness of DPP® CVL for application in serological surveys.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30379198/