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Sensitivity and specificity of parallel or serial serological testing for detection of canine Leishmania infection
Arruda, Mauro Maciel de; Figueiredo, Fabiano Borges; Marcelino, Andreza Pain; Barbosa, José Ronaldo; Werneck, Guilherme Loureiro; Noronha, Elza Ferreira & Romero, Gustavo Adolfo Sierra
Abstract
In Brazil, human and canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) caused by Leishmania infantum has undergone urbanisation
since 1980, constituting a public health problem, and serological tests are tools of choice for identifying infected dogs.
Until recently, the Brazilian zoonoses control program recommended enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) and
indirect immunofluorescence assays (IFA) as the screening and confirmatory methods, respectively, for the detection of
canine infection. The purpose of this study was to estimate the accuracy of ELISA and IFA in parallel or serial combinations.
The reference standard comprised the results of direct visualisation of parasites in histological sections, immunohistochemical
test, or isolation of the parasite in culture. Samples from 98 cases and 1,327 noncases were included.
Individually, both tests presented sensitivity of 91.8% and 90.8%, and specificity of 83.4 and 53.4%, for the ELISA and IFA,
respectively. When tests were used in parallel combination, sensitivity attained 99.2%, while specificity dropped to 44.8%.
When used in serial combination (ELISA followed by IFA), decreased sensitivity (83.3%) and increased specificity (92.5%)
were observed. Serial testing approach improved specificity with moderate loss in sensitivity. This strategy could partially
fulfill the needs of public health and dog owners for a more accurate diagnosis of CVL.
Keywords
dogs; sensitivity; specificity; visceral leishmaniasis; Leishmania infantum; serology
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