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Seroprevalence of equine granulocytic anaplasmosis and lyme borreliosis in Canada as determined by a point-of-care enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Abstract: Equine granulocytic anaplasmosis (EGA) and Lyme borreliosis (LB) are an emerging concern in Canada. We estimated the seroprevalence of EGA and equine LB by testing 376 convenience serum samples from 3 provinces using a point-of-care SNAP(®) 4Dx(®) ELISA (IDEXX Laboratories, Westbrook, Maine, USA), and investigated the agreement between the point-of-care ELISA and laboratory-based serologic tests. The estimated seroprevalence for EGA was 0.53% overall (0.49% in Saskatchewan, 0.71% in Manitoba), while the estimated seroprevalence for LB was 1.6% overall (0.49% in Saskatchewan, 2.86% in Manitoba). There was limited agreement between the point-of-care ELISA and an indirect fluorescent antibody test for EGA (kappa 0.1, PABAK 0.47) and an ELISA/Western blot combination for LB (kappa 0.23, PABAK 0.71). While the SNAP(®) 4Dx(®) ELISA yielded expected seroprevalence estimates, further evaluation of serologic tests for the purposes of disease exposure recognition may be needed. Séroprévalence de l’anaplasmose granulocytaire équine et de la borréliose de Lyme au Canada telle que déterminée par un test ELISA hors laboratoire. L’anaplasmose granulocytaire équine (AGE) et la borréliose de Lyme (BL) sont de nouvelles maladies émergentes au Canada. Nous avons estimé la séroprévalence de l’AGE et de la BL équine en testant 376 échantillons sériques de commodité provenant de trois provinces en utilisant un test ELISA SNAPMD 4DxMD hors laboratoire (IDEXX Laboratories, Westbrook, Maine, États-Unis) et nous avons analysé la concordance entre les tests ELISA hors laboratoire et des tests sérologiques faits en laboratoire. Le total des séroprévalences estimées pour l’AGE était de 0,53 % (0,49 % en Saskatchewan, 0,71 % au Manitoba), tandis que le total de la séroprévalence estimée de BL était de 1,6 % (0,49 % en Saskatchewan, 2,86 % au Manitoba). Il y avait une concordance limitée entre le test ELISA hors laboratoire et un test d’immunofluorescence indirecte pour l’AGE (kappa 0,1, PABAK 0,47) et une combinaison de tests ELISA/immunobuvardage pour BL (kappa 0,23, PABAK 0,71). Même si le test ELISA SNAPMD 4DxMD hors laboratoire a donné des estimations de séroprévalence attendues, une nouvelle évaluation des tests sérologiques à des fins de reconnaissance de l’exposition à une maladie peut être requise.(Traduit par Isabelle Vallières).
Publication Date: 2015-06-02 PubMed ID: 26028677PubMed Central: PMC4431153
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  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

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The study is looking at the prevalence of Equine Granulocytic Anaplasmosis (EGA) and Lyme borreliosis (LB) in horses in three provinces in Canada. It used a point-of care ELISA test to assess a convenience sample of horse blood serum and compared the results with laboratory-based blood tests.

Background

  • The researchers are interested in EGA and LB, diseases that are emerging concerns in Canada.
  • These diseases affect horses and can have serious implications for animal health.
  • To learn more about the extent of these diseases, the goal of the study was to estimate the seroprevalence (the level of a pathogen in a population, as measured in blood serum) of EGA and LB in horses from three provinces in Canada.

Methodology

  • The researchers used serum samples from horses and tested them using a point-of-care ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) test, specifically the SNAP® 4Dx® ELISA developed by IDEXX Laboratories.
  • The ELISA test allowed for quick and easy testing on the spot, compared with laboratory-based tests which tend to be more time-consuming and expensive.
  • The results from the point-of-care ELISA tests were compared with results from more traditional, laboratory-based serologic tests to evaluate the agreement between these methods.

Findings

  • The estimated seroprevalence for EGA was found to be 0.53% overall, with slight differences between provinces.
  • The estimated seroprevalence for LB was higher, at 1.6% overall, again with some differences between provinces.
  • When compared with the lab-based tests, there was limited agreement with the ELISA results for both diseases.

Implications

  • The SNAP® 4Dx® ELISA did provide expected seroprevalence estimates, but the limited agreement with lab-based tests indicates that further evaluation might be needed.
  • If the point-of-care ELISA can be validated for accuracy in further studies, it could be a useful tool for rapid assessment of disease prevalence in horse populations.
  • Understanding the prevalence of these diseases assists in implementing measures to control and prevent these emerging risks.

Cite This Article

APA
Schvartz G, Epp T, Burgess HJ, Chilton NB, Pearl DL, Lohmann KL. (2015). Seroprevalence of equine granulocytic anaplasmosis and lyme borreliosis in Canada as determined by a point-of-care enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Can Vet J, 56(6), 575-580.

Publication

ISSN: 0008-5286
NlmUniqueID: 0004653
Country: Canada
Language: English
Volume: 56
Issue: 6
Pages: 575-580

Researcher Affiliations

Schvartz, Gili
  • Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences (Schvartz, Epp, Lohmann), Department of Veterinary Pathology (Burgess), Western College of Veterinary Medicine, and Department of Biology (Chilton), University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B4; Department of Population Medicine, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1 (Pearl).
Epp, Tasha
  • Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences (Schvartz, Epp, Lohmann), Department of Veterinary Pathology (Burgess), Western College of Veterinary Medicine, and Department of Biology (Chilton), University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B4; Department of Population Medicine, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1 (Pearl).
Burgess, Hilary J
  • Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences (Schvartz, Epp, Lohmann), Department of Veterinary Pathology (Burgess), Western College of Veterinary Medicine, and Department of Biology (Chilton), University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B4; Department of Population Medicine, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1 (Pearl).
Chilton, Neil B
  • Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences (Schvartz, Epp, Lohmann), Department of Veterinary Pathology (Burgess), Western College of Veterinary Medicine, and Department of Biology (Chilton), University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B4; Department of Population Medicine, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1 (Pearl).
Pearl, David L
  • Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences (Schvartz, Epp, Lohmann), Department of Veterinary Pathology (Burgess), Western College of Veterinary Medicine, and Department of Biology (Chilton), University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B4; Department of Population Medicine, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1 (Pearl).
Lohmann, Katharina L
  • Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences (Schvartz, Epp, Lohmann), Department of Veterinary Pathology (Burgess), Western College of Veterinary Medicine, and Department of Biology (Chilton), University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B4; Department of Population Medicine, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1 (Pearl).

MeSH Terms

  • Anaplasmosis / blood
  • Anaplasmosis / epidemiology
  • Animals
  • Canada / epidemiology
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / methods
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / veterinary
  • Horse Diseases / blood
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
  • Horses
  • Lyme Disease / blood
  • Lyme Disease / epidemiology
  • Lyme Disease / veterinary
  • Point-of-Care Systems
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies

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