Comparison of different diagnostic tests in dogs uninfected and naturally infected with visceral leishmaniasis

• Published in: Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins including Tropical Diseases
• Main Authors: CY Sassaki, MM Colodel, I Ferreira, FS Nogueira, SB Lucheis, H Langoni, NS Rocha
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: SciELO 2011
• Subjects: diagnosis; dogs; visceral leishmaniasis; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Toxicology. Poisons; RA1190-1270; Zoology; QL1-991; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1590/S1678-91992011000300015; https://doaj.org/article/a430e55fecba407fbe1b5084f3cf8d3b

Uninfected dogs (n = 10) and those naturally infected with leishmaniasis (n = 10) were subjected to several diagnostic tests, namely: hemoculture, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of hemoculture, indirect immunofluorescence (RIFI), cytological examination of lymph node aspirate, culture of lymph node aspirate and PCR of lymph node aspirate. RIFI - followed by PCR of lymph node aspirate culture - presented more positive results in infected dogs than in uninfected ones. In infected animals, RIFI was more effective than PCR of lymph node aspirate culture. There was no statistical difference in positivity between RIFI and hemoculture; lymph node aspirate culture/cytological examination of lymph node aspirate and PCR of hemoculture; and between PCR of lymph node aspirate culture and PCR of hemoculture. All infected and uninfected animals had positive and negative results in at least one test. In conclusion, the association of several tests improves the efficacy of canine visceral leishmaniasis diagnosis.