Comparison of Serological Tests for the Detection of Natural Heartworm Infection in Cats

Berdoulay, Paul; Levy, Julie; Snyder, Patti S.; Pegelow, Michael J.; Hooks, Jennifer L.; Tavares, L; Gibson, Nicole; Salute, Marc E.

doi:10.5326/0400376

Cited by 53 publications

(44 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…The study supports results of previous studies, which indicate that both antigen and antibody tests are needed to increase the sensitivity of either single test alone (Snyder et al 2000, Berdoulay et al 2004. Two of 12 cats appear to have had a transient exposure and were reactive only in the antibody assay, and 1 cat with confirmed adult infection was non-reactive in a single antibody assay.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 78%

“…Depending on the antigen target used, anti-heartworm antibody may not be detectable in all cats with adult heartworms. Test sensitivities of 72.4 % and 62.1 % were reported in a study using 2 commercial antibody detection assays in naturally infected cats with necropsy-confirmed infections (Berdoulay et al 2004). An antigen test may identify cats that have mature adult infections, but also may have falsenegative results on antibody tests (Snyder et al 2000).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Heartworm infection can be difficult to diagnose in cats with naturally acquired infections (Berdoulay et al 2004). Currently available heartworm antibody tests can detect feline infection as early as 1 to 2 months after infection, and are useful as the infection develops in cats that may be antigennegative but have heartworms that have developed to at least the immature adult L4 stage (Lee et al 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Temporal Pattern of Circulating Antigens and Antibody Responses in Cats Experimentally Infected with Dirofilaria immitis

et al. 2017

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Heartworm disease in cats has been attributed to immature adult heartworms reaching the pulmonary arteries approximately 2.5 -4 months post infection and the presence of mature adult worms in the cardiopulmonary system approximately 6 months after infection. The arrival and death of immature heartworms causes significant lung pathology, a condition referred to as heartwormassociated respiratory disease (HARD). To evaluate the humoral immune response to Dirofilaria immitis, 12 cats were each infected by subcutaneous injection of 100 third-stage larvae. Postinfection serum samples were collected weekly for 4 weeks, every other week for the following 4 weeks, then monthly to day 270 for evaluation of antibodies to D. immitis recombinant antigens HWAg-1 and HWAg-2 and circulating heartworm antigen (HWAg) using the PetChek ® HTWM PF Test Kit (IDEXX Laboratories). Necropsies were performed 278 -299 days post infection for collection of adult worms. Eleven cats were HWAg-1 antibody-positive 68 days post-infection, and the remaining cat became positive by day 140. Eleven cats were positive for HWAg-2 antibody 42 -84 days post infection; all 11 remained HWAg-2 antibodypositive through day 270. Circulating HWAg was detected in 10 cats, 2 by day 140 and 8 others by day 168. The 2 antigen-negative cats had no adult worms at necropsy. This study demonstrates that decomposition of immature adult heartworms can result in detectible levels of circulating antigen prior to sexual maturation. In this experimental Original Article S92EndoparasitEs model, D. immitis antigen was detectable in cats at time points (days 140 and 168) associated with HARD from dying immature adult heartworms.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 78%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Temporal Pattern of Circulating Antigens and Antibody Responses in Cats Experimentally Infected with Dirofilaria immitis

et al. 2017

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“…In feline dirofilariasis, infections by few adult and preadult worms are common, resulting in low concentrations of antigens that can occasionally be derived exclusively from male worms and are therefore undetectable by antigen testing. Consequently, antigen detection usually produces false-negative results and underestimates the number of feline infections (40). However, it is important to highlight the diagnostic utility of antigen detection when the parasite load consists of a single female worm.…”

Section: Diagnosismentioning

confidence: 99%

Human and Animal Dirofilariasis: the Emergence of a Zoonotic Mosaic

et al. 2012

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SUMMARY Dirofilariasis represents a zoonotic mosaic, which includes two main filarial species ( Dirofilaria immitis and D. repens ) that have adapted to canine, feline, and human hosts with distinct biological and clinical implications. At the same time, both D. immitis and D. repens are themselves hosts to symbiotic bacteria of the genus Wolbachia , the study of which has resulted in a profound shift in the understanding of filarial biology, the mechanisms of the pathologies that they produce in their hosts, and issues related to dirofilariasis treatment. Moreover, because dirofilariasis is a vector-borne transmitted disease, their distribution and infection rates have undergone significant modifications influenced by global climate change. Despite advances in our knowledge of D. immitis and D. repens and the pathologies that they inflict on different hosts, there are still many unknown aspects of dirofilariasis. This review is focused on human and animal dirofilariasis, including the basic morphology, biology, protein composition, and metabolism of Dirofilaria species; the climate and human behavioral factors that influence distribution dynamics; the disease pathology; the host-parasite relationship; the mechanisms involved in parasite survival; the immune response and pathogenesis; and the clinical management of human and animal infections.

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“…These testing frequencies clearly demonstrate that feline filariosis has not yet been perceived as an actual clinical problem by practitioners who erroneously believe that low infection rates occur in cats (9,22). Certainly, until now, a combination of physical examination and ancillary methods have been recommended for establishing the likelihood of feline filariosis intra vitam (2,7).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Detection of Wolbachia DNA in Blood for Diagnosing Filaria-Associated Syndromes in Cats

et al. 2012

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A fundamental role for the endosymbiotic bacteria Wolbachia pipientis in the pathogenesis of Dirofilaria immitis infections has emerged in recent years. Diagnostic opportunities arising from this breakthrough have not yet been fully exploited. This study was aimed at developing conventional and real-time PCR assays to carry out a molecular survey in a convenience sample of cats living in an area where D. immitis is endemic and to evaluate the detection of bacterial DNA in blood as a surrogate assay for diagnosing filaria-associated syndromes in cats. COI and FtsZ loci were used as targets for D. immitis and Wolbachia PCR assays, respectively, and real-time TaqMan PCR assays were used only for Wolbachia. A convenience sample of 307 disease-affected or healthy cats examined at a University facility were PCR tested, and their medical records were investigated. Conventional nested PCR for Wolbachia amplified the endosymbionts of both D. immitis and D. repens, while real-time PCR was highly specific only for the former. Observed prevalences of 0.3 and 10.4% were found using conventional nested PCR assays for D. immitis and real-time PCR for Wolbachia, respectively. Similar prevalences were established using the Wolbachia nested PCR (98% concordance with real-time PCR). The group of Wolbachia-positive samples had a significantly higher proportion of subjects with respiratory signs (29.0% versus 9.7%; P ‫؍‬ 0.002). The findings of this study indicate that a highly sensitive PCR assay can be used to detect the Wolbachia organism in the peripheral blood of cats with respiratory signs.

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Comparison of Serological Tests for the Detection of Natural Heartworm Infection in Cats

Cited by 53 publications

References 9 publications

Temporal Pattern of Circulating Antigens and Antibody Responses in Cats Experimentally Infected with Dirofilaria immitis

Temporal Pattern of Circulating Antigens and Antibody Responses in Cats Experimentally Infected with Dirofilaria immitis

Human and Animal Dirofilariasis: the Emergence of a Zoonotic Mosaic

Detection of Wolbachia DNA in Blood for Diagnosing Filaria-Associated Syndromes in Cats

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