Heat treatment prior to testing allows detection of antigen of Dirofilaria immitis in feline serum
Abstract Background Diagnosis of Dirofilaria immitis infection in cats is complicated by the difficulty associated with reliable detection of antigen in feline blood and serum samples. Methods To determine if antigen-antibody complex formation may interfere with detection of antigen in feline sample...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2014-01-01
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| Series: | Parasites & Vectors |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/1756-3305-7-1 |
| _version_ | 1797811711460245504 |
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| author | Susan E Little Melissa R Raymond Jennifer E Thomas Jeff Gruntmeir Joe A Hostetler James H Meinkoth Byron L Blagburn |
| author_facet | Susan E Little Melissa R Raymond Jennifer E Thomas Jeff Gruntmeir Joe A Hostetler James H Meinkoth Byron L Blagburn |
| author_sort | Susan E Little |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Diagnosis of Dirofilaria immitis infection in cats is complicated by the difficulty associated with reliable detection of antigen in feline blood and serum samples. Methods To determine if antigen-antibody complex formation may interfere with detection of antigen in feline samples, we evaluated the performance of four different commercially available heartworm tests using serum samples from six cats experimentally infected with D. immitis and confirmed to harbor a low number of adult worms (mean = 2.0). Sera collected 168 (n = 6), 196 (n = 6), and 224 (n = 6) days post infection were tested both directly and following heat treatment. Results Antigen was detected in serum samples from 0 or 1 of 6 infected cats using the assays according to manufacturer’s directions, but after heat treatment of serum samples, as many as 5 of 6 cats had detectable antigen 6–8 months post infection. Antibodies to D. immitis were detected in all six infected cats by commercial in-clinic assay and at a reference laboratory. Conclusions These results indicate that heat treatment of samples prior to testing can improve the sensitivity of antigen assays in feline patients, supporting more accurate diagnosis of this infection in cats. Surveys conducted by antigen testing without prior heat treatment of samples likely underestimate the true prevalence of infection in cats. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T07:27:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c53184e51b964f6394a741b1143a1d9b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1756-3305 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T07:27:46Z |
| publishDate | 2014-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Parasites & Vectors |
| spelling | doaj.art-c53184e51b964f6394a741b1143a1d9b2023-06-04T11:19:26ZengBMCParasites & Vectors1756-33052014-01-01711410.1186/1756-3305-7-1Heat treatment prior to testing allows detection of antigen of Dirofilaria immitis in feline serumSusan E Little0Melissa R Raymond1Jennifer E Thomas2Jeff Gruntmeir3Joe A Hostetler4James H Meinkoth5Byron L Blagburn6Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, Oklahoma State UniversityDepartment of Veterinary Pathobiology, Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, Oklahoma State UniversityDepartment of Veterinary Pathobiology, Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, Oklahoma State UniversityDepartment of Veterinary Pathobiology, Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, Oklahoma State UniversityBayer HealthCare, Animal Health, Shawnee MissionDepartment of Veterinary Pathobiology, Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, Oklahoma State UniversityDepartment of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn UniversityAbstract Background Diagnosis of Dirofilaria immitis infection in cats is complicated by the difficulty associated with reliable detection of antigen in feline blood and serum samples. Methods To determine if antigen-antibody complex formation may interfere with detection of antigen in feline samples, we evaluated the performance of four different commercially available heartworm tests using serum samples from six cats experimentally infected with D. immitis and confirmed to harbor a low number of adult worms (mean = 2.0). Sera collected 168 (n = 6), 196 (n = 6), and 224 (n = 6) days post infection were tested both directly and following heat treatment. Results Antigen was detected in serum samples from 0 or 1 of 6 infected cats using the assays according to manufacturer’s directions, but after heat treatment of serum samples, as many as 5 of 6 cats had detectable antigen 6–8 months post infection. Antibodies to D. immitis were detected in all six infected cats by commercial in-clinic assay and at a reference laboratory. Conclusions These results indicate that heat treatment of samples prior to testing can improve the sensitivity of antigen assays in feline patients, supporting more accurate diagnosis of this infection in cats. Surveys conducted by antigen testing without prior heat treatment of samples likely underestimate the true prevalence of infection in cats.https://doi.org/10.1186/1756-3305-7-1Antigen testCatDirofilaria immitisHeartwormHeat treatment |
| spellingShingle | Susan E Little Melissa R Raymond Jennifer E Thomas Jeff Gruntmeir Joe A Hostetler James H Meinkoth Byron L Blagburn Heat treatment prior to testing allows detection of antigen of Dirofilaria immitis in feline serum Parasites & Vectors Antigen test Cat Dirofilaria immitis Heartworm Heat treatment |
| title | Heat treatment prior to testing allows detection of antigen of Dirofilaria immitis in feline serum |
| title_full | Heat treatment prior to testing allows detection of antigen of Dirofilaria immitis in feline serum |
| title_fullStr | Heat treatment prior to testing allows detection of antigen of Dirofilaria immitis in feline serum |
| title_full_unstemmed | Heat treatment prior to testing allows detection of antigen of Dirofilaria immitis in feline serum |
| title_short | Heat treatment prior to testing allows detection of antigen of Dirofilaria immitis in feline serum |
| title_sort | heat treatment prior to testing allows detection of antigen of dirofilaria immitis in feline serum |
| topic | Antigen test Cat Dirofilaria immitis Heartworm Heat treatment |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/1756-3305-7-1 |
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