Comparison of the acid-phosphatase staining and polymerase chain reaction for detection of Dirofilaria repens infection in dogs in Korea.

Abstract

This study was performed to compare acid-phosphatase staining with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis for the diagnosis of Dirofilaria repens infection. The infection of D. repens was confirmed in Korean reared German shepherd dogs. Knott's tests were carried out for the detection of microfilaria in 543 Korean reared German shepherd dogs (255 females and 288 males). Eighty four of the 543 dogs (15.5%) showed microfilaria-positive reactions with the modified Knott's test, and the test-positive microfilariae were then examined by both acid phosphatase staining and PCR analysis. Six (7.1%) and 17 (20.2%) of the 84 microfilaria-positive samples, by the Knott's tests were positive to D. repens by acid-phosphatase staining and in D. repens-specific PCR analysis, respectively. All samples found to be positive by the acid-phosphatase staining were also found to be positive by PCR analysis. Therefore, we conclude that PCR analysis (20.2%) is more valuable for the diagnosis of D. repens infection than acid-phosphatase staining (7.1%) (p<0.001).

• Authors: Sang-Eun Lee, Kun-Ho Song, Jianzhu Liu, Myung-Chul Kim, Bae-Keun Park, Kyu-Woan Cho, Atsuhiko Hasegawa, Duck-Hwan Kim
• Journal: The Journal of veterinary medical science (J Vet Med Sci) Vol. 66 Issue 9 Pg. 1087-9 (Sep 2004) ISSN: 0916-7250 [Print] Japan
• PMID: 15472472 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Acid Phosphatase

Topics

• Acid Phosphatase
• Animals
• Dirofilaria (genetics)
• Dirofilariasis (diagnosis)
• Dog Diseases (diagnosis, parasitology)
• Dogs
• Female
• Korea
• Male
• Polymerase Chain Reaction (methods, veterinary)
• Sensitivity and Specificity
• Staining and Labeling (methods, veterinary)