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Evaluating Rabies Test Accuracy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Human and Canine Diagnostic Methods
Mayron Antonio Candia-Puma1,2, Leydi Pola-Romero1, Haruna Luz Barazorda-Ccahuana1
1Computational Biology and Chemistry Research Group, Vicerrectorado de Investigación, Universidad Católica de Santa María, Arequipa 04000, Peru.
Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland)
|February 26, 2025
Summary
Accurate rabies diagnosis is crucial for preventing fatal outcomes. This review found Rapid Immunochromatographic Tests (RIT) superior to older methods like Direct Fluorescent Antibody Test (DFAT) for diagnosing rabies in humans and dogs.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Infectious Diseases
- Diagnostic Science
Background:
- Rabies is nearly always fatal once symptoms appear, making early diagnosis critical for treatment and prevention.
- Dogs are primary rabies reservoirs, especially in developing countries, emphasizing the need for accurate diagnostic tools to prevent human infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and meta-analyze the diagnostic accuracy of various laboratory tests for rabies in both human and canine populations.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive literature search of the PubMed database was conducted for studies published between 1990 and 2024.
- Sixty studies were included following PRISMA guidelines for systematic reviews and meta-analyses.
Main Results:
- Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) and Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) showed good diagnostic performance.
- Direct Fluorescent Antibody Test (DFAT) demonstrated lower accuracy (AUCFPR = 0.887).
- Rapid Immunochromatographic Test (RIT) exhibited the highest diagnostic performance (AUCFPR = 0.949), outperforming DFAT.
Conclusions:
- Current rabies diagnostic protocols require modernization with advanced techniques.
- Implementing superior tests like RIT can enhance diagnostic accuracy, reduce disease transmission, and lower mortality rates.
