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Comparative serologic study of equine piroplasmosis, with card and complement-fixation tests
Insights
A new rapid card test (CT) for equine piroplasmosis was developed using a Babesia caballi antigen. This diagnostic test accurately identifies infected horses, showing good agreement with established methods.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Parasitology
- Immunodiagnostics
Background:
- Equine piroplasmosis is a significant disease affecting horses globally.
- Accurate and rapid diagnostic tools are crucial for disease control and management.
- Existing diagnostic methods may have limitations in speed or accessibility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate a rapid card test (CT) for the diagnosis of equine piroplasmosis.
- To assess the efficacy of the CT using Babesia caballi antigen.
- To compare the performance of the CT with the complement-fixation (CF) test.
Main Methods:
- A card test (CT) antigen was prepared from lyophilized Babesia caballi complement-fixation (CF) antigen.
- Serum and plasma samples were collected from known infected and healthy horses.
- Samples were also obtained from horses in endemic regions outside the continental United States.
- Comparative testing was performed using both the CT and CF assays.
Main Results:
- The CT correctly identified 85% of plasma samples and 92% of serum samples from known infected and normal horses.
- Results from the CT showed close agreement with the established CF test.
- The CT demonstrated good agreement with CF results for serum samples from international locations.
Conclusions:
- The developed rapid card test (CT) is a reliable diagnostic tool for equine piroplasmosis.
- The CT offers a promising alternative to traditional methods, with high sensitivity and specificity.
- This diagnostic advancement can aid in the surveillance and control of equine piroplasmosis in various settings.
Abstract:
An agglutinating antigen and a rapid card test (CT) for equine piroplasmosis was developed. The antigen for the CT was prepared from lyophilized Babesia caballi complement-fixation (CF) antigen. Serum and plasma samples for testing were obtained from known B caballi-infected horses and clinically normal horses maintained at the laboratory. Serum samples also were obtained from horses outside the continental United States, in areas where piroplasmosis is endemic. Comparative CT and CF tests were done on all samples. The CT correctly identified 85% of 192 plasma samples from known infected and normal horses and 92% of 188 serum samples from these same horses. The CT results agreed closely with CF results. There was good agreement between CT and CF results. There was good agreement between CT and CF results on serum samples from horses outside the United States. Of 19 CF-positive samples, 90% were also CT-positive and 92% of 177 CF-negative samples were also CT-negative.