Abstract
Examinations for heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) were performed on 175 impounded dogs from a hyperendemic area of the Po Valley (Italy). Each blood sample was used wiht five haematological diagnostic methods (filtration, direct smear, modified Knott, clotted blood and capillary tube) and three commercial ELISA kits (PetChek, Diasystems, Uni-Tec). The results were compared with the true infection status obtained from post-mortem examination of the heart, pulmonary arteries, thoracic venae cavae and lungs. The prevalence of the infection by adult worms at necropsy was 63%. The sensitivity of the tests ranged from 60% (capillary tube) to 81% (Diasystems) and the specificity from 88% (filtration) to 98% (PetChek). The results of all the tests differed significantly (p<0.01) from those obtained at necropsy. The sensitivity of the tests was also assessed with respect to the differing numbers of worms in the hosts. A positive correlation between the worm burden and the sensitivity was observed in all the tests. It is apparent that the ELISA methods were better able to detect cases with a low number of worms than the haematological tests.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Abbreviations
- AC:
-
accuracy
- CB:
-
clotted blood
- CT:
-
capillary tube
- DI:
-
Diasystems
- DS:
-
direct smear
- ELISA:
-
enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
- FI:
-
filtration
- MK:
-
modified Knott
- NPV:
-
negative predictive value
- PE:
-
PetChek
- PPV:
-
positive predictive value
- SE:
-
sensitivity
- SP:
-
specificity
- UN:
-
Uni-Tec
References
Capelli, G., Poglayen, G., Bertotti, F., Giupponi, S. and Martini, M., 1992. Canine heartworm infection: host-parasite relationship in a hyperendemic area of Italy. VIth European Multicolloquium of Parasitology, The Hague, 1992, 91
Capelli, G., Poglayen, G., Bertotti, F., Giupponi, S. and Martini, M., 1996. The host-parasite relationship in canine heartworm infections in a hyperendemic area of Italy. Veterinary Research Communications, 20, 320–330
Courtney, C.H. and Cornell, J.A., 1990. Evaluation of heartworm immunodiagnostic tests. Journal of American Veterinary Medical Association 197, 724–729
Dennis, D.T. and Kean, B.H., 1971. Isolation of microfilariae: report of a new method. Journal of Parasitology, 57, 1146–1147
Euzeby, J., 1981. frDiagnostic expérimental des helminthoses animales, (Edition Information Techniques des Services Veterinaires, Paris), 276–312
Mantovani, A. and Jackson, R.F., 1966. Transplacental transmission of microfilariae of Dirofilaria immitis in the dog. Journal of Parasitology, 52, 116
Martini, M., Poglayen, G., Capelli, G. and Roda, R., 1991. Diagnosis of canine filariosis: relative sensitivity and specificity of some haematological techniques. Angewandte Parasitologie, 32, 133–136
Otto, G.F., 1978. The significance of microfilaraemia in the diagnosis of heartworm infection. In: H.C.Morgan, G.F.Otto, R.F.Jackson and C.H.Courtney (eds), Proceedings of the Heartworm Symposium, 1977, Atlanta, Georgia, (Veterinary Medicine Publishing Inc., Bonner Springs, Kansas), 22–30
Siegel, S., 1956. Nonparametric Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences, (McGraw-Hill, New York), 63–67
Soulsby, E.J.L., 1982. Helminths, Arthropods and Protozoa of Domesticated Animals, (Baillière Tindall, London), 310
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Martini, M., Capelli, G., Poglayen, G. et al. The validity of some haematological and elisa methods for the diagnosis of canine heartworm disease. Veterinary Research Communications 20, 331–339 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00366539
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00366539