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BMC veterinary research2020; 16(1); 183; doi: 10.1186/s12917-020-02405-4

Evaluation of a rapid immunochromatographic test kit to the gold standard fluorescent antibody test for diagnosis of rabies in animals in Bhutan.

Abstract: Rabies kills approximately 59,000 people each year worldwide. Rapid and accurate diagnosis of rabies is important for instituting rapid containment measures and for advising the exposed people for postexposure treatment. The application of a rapid diagnostic tests in the field can greatly enhance disease surveillance and diagnostic activities, especially in resource poor settings. In this study, a total of 179 brain tissue samples collected from different rabies suspect animal species (113 dogs, 50 cattle, 10 cats, 3 goats, 2 horses, and 1 bear) were selected and tested using both rapid immunochromatographic kit and the reference standard fluorescent antibody test (FAT). We evaluated the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of a rapid antigen detection test kit produced by BioNote, Inc. (Hwaseong-si, Korea) relative to a FAT for its fit-for-purpose for confirmation of clinical cases of rabies for early response and enhancing rabies surveillance. Results: Among 179 samples examined in this study, there was a concordance in results by the rapid test and FAT in 115 positive samples and 54 negative samples. Test results were discordant in 10 samples which were positive by FAT, but negative (false negative) by rapid kit. The rapid test kit showed a sensitivity of 92% (95% CI: 85.9-95.6) and specificity of 100% (95% CI: 93.4-100) using FAT as the reference standard. The positive and negative predictive values were found to be 100% (95% CI:96.7-100) and 84.4% (95% CI: 73.6-91.3), respectively. Overall, there was 94.4% (95% CI: 90-96.9) test agreement between rapid test and FAT (Kappa value = 0.874) with a positive percent agreement and negative percent agreement of 92 and 100%, respectively. Conclusions: Our finding demonstrated that the rapid test kit (BioNote) can be used for rabies surveillance and confirming clinical case of rabies in animals for making rapid decisions particularly controlling rabies outbreaks in resource poor settings.
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Publication Date: 2020-06-08 PubMed ID: 32513172PubMed Central: PMC7281917DOI: 10.1186/s12917-020-02405-4Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research evaluates the effectiveness of a rapid diagnostic test kit for diagnosing rabies in animals, using a standard fluorescent antibody test (FAT) as a reference point. The study concluded that this rapid test kit, created by BioNote, Inc., shows promising results for use in rabies surveillance, particularly in regions with fewer resources where controlling rabies outbreaks requires quick decision making.

Research Methodology

  • The study utilised 179 brain tissue samples taken from various species suspected of having rabies, including dogs, cattle, cats, goats, horses and a bear.
  • Each of these samples were tested using both the rapid immunochromatographic kit and the standard fluorescent antibody test (FAT).
  • The research measured the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of the rapid test kit in relation to the FAT to assess its suitability.

Results

  • A total of 115 positive results and 54 negative results were agreed upon by both the rapid test and the FAT.
  • For 10 samples, the results were discordant – FAT gave positive results, but the rapid test gave false negatives.
  • The sensitivity of the rapid test kit was 92%, indicating that it was able to correctly identify 92% of those with rabies.
  • The specificity was found to be 100%, demonstrating that the kit correctly identified all samples without rabies.
  • The positive predictive value (chance that subjects with a positive screening test truly have the disease) and the negative predictive value (chance that subjects with a negative screening test truly don’t have the disease) were found to be 100% and 84.4% respectively.
  • The agreement between the rapid test and FAT was 94.4% overall, indicating a relatively strong level of concordance between the two tests.

Conclusions

  • Overall, the findings of the study indicate that the rapid test kit developed by BioNote, Inc. is a useful tool for the surveillance and confirmation of clinical cases of rabies in animals.
  • This kit can be particularly helpful in resource-poor settings where rapid decisions are needed to control rabies outbreaks.

Cite This Article

APA
Tenzin T, Lhamo K, Rai PB, Tshering D, Jamtsho P, Namgyal J, Wangdi T, Letho S, Rai T, Jamtsho S, Dorji C, Rinchen S, Lungten L, Wangmo K, Lungten L, Wangchuk P, Gempo T, Jigme K, Phuntshok K, Tenzinla T, Gurung RB, Dukpa K. (2020). Evaluation of a rapid immunochromatographic test kit to the gold standard fluorescent antibody test for diagnosis of rabies in animals in Bhutan. BMC Vet Res, 16(1), 183. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-020-02405-4

Publication

BMC veterinary research
ISSN: 1746-6148
NlmUniqueID: 101249759
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 16
Issue: 1
Pages: 183

Researcher Affiliations

Tenzin, Tenzin
  • Department of Livestock, National Centre for Animal Health, Serbithang, Thimphu, Bhutan. tenzinvp@gmail.com.
Lhamo, Kelzang
  • Department of Livestock, National Centre for Animal Health, Serbithang, Thimphu, Bhutan.
Rai, Purna B
  • Department of Livestock, National Centre for Animal Health, Serbithang, Thimphu, Bhutan.
Tshering, Dawa
  • Department of Livestock, National Centre for Animal Health, Serbithang, Thimphu, Bhutan.
Jamtsho, Pema
  • District Veterinary Hospital, Trashigang, Bhutan.
Namgyal, Jamyang
  • District Veterinary Hospital, Trashigang, Bhutan.
Wangdi, Thrinang
  • Regional Livestock Development Centre, Kanglung, Trashigang, Bhutan.
Letho, Sangay
  • Regional Livestock Development Centre, Kanglung, Trashigang, Bhutan.
Rai, Tuku
  • City Veterinary Hospital and Satellite Veterinary Laboratory, Phuentsholing, Bhutan.
Jamtsho, Sonam
  • City Veterinary Hospital and Satellite Veterinary Laboratory, Phuentsholing, Bhutan.
Dorji, Chendu
  • Regional Livestock Development Centre, Tshimasham, Chukha, Bhutan.
Rinchen, Sangay
  • Regional Livestock Development Centre, Tshimasham, Chukha, Bhutan.
Lungten, Lungten
  • Satellite Veterinary Laboratory, Deothang, Samdrup Jongkhar, Bhutan.
Wangmo, Karma
  • District Veterinary Hospital, Samtse, Bhutan.
Lungten, Lungten
  • District Veterinary Hospital, Samtse, Bhutan.
Wangchuk, Pema
  • Regional Livestock Development Centre, Zhemgang, Bhutan.
Gempo, Tshewang
  • Satellite Veterinary Laboratory, Gelephu, Sarpang, Bhutan.
Jigme, Kezang
  • Satellite Veterinary Laboratory, Gelephu, Sarpang, Bhutan.
Phuntshok, Karma
  • District Veterinary Hospital, Samdrup Jongkhar, Bhutan.
Tenzinla, Tenzinla
  • Department of Livestock, National Centre for Animal Health, Serbithang, Thimphu, Bhutan.
Gurung, Ratna B
  • Department of Livestock, National Centre for Animal Health, Serbithang, Thimphu, Bhutan.
Dukpa, Kinzang
  • Department of Livestock, National Centre for Animal Health, Serbithang, Thimphu, Bhutan.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, Viral
  • Bhutan
  • Brain / virology
  • Chromatography, Affinity / methods
  • Chromatography, Affinity / veterinary
  • Diagnostic Tests, Routine / veterinary
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique / veterinary
  • Immunologic Tests / methods
  • Immunologic Tests / veterinary
  • Mammals
  • Rabies / diagnosis
  • Rabies / veterinary
  • Rabies virus / immunology
  • Rabies virus / isolation & purification
  • Sensitivity and Specificity

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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