Comparison of three techniques for the serological diagnosis of Neospora caninum in the dog and their use for epidemiological studies

Vet Parasitol. 2004 Aug 13;123(1-2):25-32. doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2004.05.025.

Abstract

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed in our laboratory and used to determine the seroprevalence of Neospora caninum in three different dog populations in Belgium: healthy dogs from cattle farms and urban dogs with or without various neurological disorders. The test was validated and compared with two other tests: an indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) and a commercially available competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (C-ELISA). The study showed a good correlation between the IFAT and the ELISA developed. When the two tests were compared with the C-ELISA, moderate positive and negative agreement indices were observed. Using our ELISA and the IFAT techniques, a high prevalence was found in farm dogs. This result showed that the neurological symptoms are not usually associated with the Neospora infection. In conclusion, the ELISA developed in our laboratory could replace the IFAT for the screening of a large number of dogs' sera.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Protozoan / blood
  • Belgium / epidemiology
  • Coccidiosis / diagnosis
  • Coccidiosis / epidemiology
  • Coccidiosis / parasitology
  • Coccidiosis / veterinary*
  • Dog Diseases / diagnosis
  • Dog Diseases / epidemiology
  • Dog Diseases / parasitology*
  • Dogs
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / methods
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / veterinary
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect / veterinary
  • Logistic Models
  • Neospora / isolation & purification*
  • Neospora / parasitology
  • Reagent Kits, Diagnostic / parasitology
  • Reagent Kits, Diagnostic / veterinary
  • Rural Population
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • Urban Population

Substances

  • Antibodies, Protozoan
  • Reagent Kits, Diagnostic