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Veterinary clinical pathology2016; 45(2); 335-346; doi: 10.1111/vcp.12364

Validation of a novel saliva-based ELISA test for diagnosing tapeworm burden in horses.

Abstract: Tapeworm infections pose a significant threat to equine health as they are associated with clinical cases of colic. Diagnosis of tapeworm burden using fecal egg counts (FECs) is unreliable, and, although a commercial serologic ELISA for anti-tapeworm antibodies is available, it requires a veterinarian to collect the blood sample. A reliable diagnostic test using an owner-accessible sample such as saliva could provide a cost-effective alternative for tapeworm testing in horses, and allow targeted deworming strategies. Objective: The purpose of the study was to statistically validate a saliva tapeworm ELISA test and compare to a tapeworm-specific IgG(T) serologic ELISA. Methods: Serum samples (139) and matched saliva samples (104) were collected from horses at a UK abattoir. The ileocecal junction and cecum were visually examined for tapeworms and any present were counted. Samples were analyzed using a serologic ELISA and the saliva tapeworm test. The test results were compared to tapeworm numbers and the various data sets were statistically analyzed. Results: Saliva scores had strong positive correlations with both infection intensity (0.74) and serologic results (Spearman's rank coefficients; 0.74 and 0.86, respectively). The saliva tapeworm test was capable of identifying the presence of one or more tapeworms with 83% sensitivity and 85% specificity. Importantly, no high-burden (more than 20 tapeworms) horses were misdiagnosed. Conclusions: The saliva tapeworm test has statistical accuracy for detecting tapeworm burdens in horses with 83% sensitivity and 85% specificity, similar to those of the serologic ELISA (85% and 78%, respectively).
© 2016 American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology.
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Publication Date: 2016-05-24 PubMed ID: 27218436DOI: 10.1111/vcp.12364Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Validation Study

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.

The research article presents the introduction and validation of a new saliva-based test for determining the level of tapeworm infection in horses. This novel diagnostic test could allow a cost-effective and accessible way to identify tapeworms, and thus curb related health risks in equines.

Objective of the Study

  • The main goal of this project was to evaluate and authenticate a saliva-based ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) test for diagnosing and quantifying tapeworm infections in horses.
  • At the same time, the results from this newly developed diagnostic tool were contrasted to those acquired from a tapeworm-specific IgG(T) serologic ELISA, a method currently in use but it needs a professional to collect horse’s blood.

Methodology

  • The researchers collected serum samples from 139 horses at a UK-based abattoir, along with saliva samples from 104 of those horses.
  • For each of these equines, the area at the junction of the ileum and cecum was visually inspected to identify and count any tapeworms.
  • Each sample was then tested using both the established serologic ELISA and the newly proposed saliva tapeworm test, with the results compared to the physical count of tapeworms.
  • The collected data was further subjected to in-depth statistical analyses for a reliable comparison of the two assessment methods.

Results

  • The saliva test’s reported results align strongly with both the infection severity and the serologic ELISA results. The correlation coefficients were found to be 0.74 and 0.86, respectively.
  • Significantly, the saliva tapeworm test could reliably identify the presence of one or more tapeworms, with an accuracy of 83% and a specificity of 85%.
  • A crucial finding was that no high-burden horses (i.e., horses with more than 20 tapeworms) were misdiagnosed using the saliva test.

Conclusions

  • Ultimately, the saliva tapeworm test was found to be statistically accurate, with an effectiveness and precision nearly on par with the existing serologic ELISA – 83% versus 85% respectively for sensitivity, and 85% versus 78% respectively for specificity.
  • The success of this research would suggest that the saliva-based ELISA test offers a practical, efficient, and cost-effective approach for diagnosing tapeworm infections in horses, thereby facilitating better-targeted anti-tapeworm strategies.

Cite This Article

APA
Lightbody KL, Davis PJ, Austin CJ. (2016). Validation of a novel saliva-based ELISA test for diagnosing tapeworm burden in horses. Vet Clin Pathol, 45(2), 335-346. https://doi.org/10.1111/vcp.12364

Publication

Veterinary clinical pathology
ISSN: 1939-165X
NlmUniqueID: 9880575
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 45
Issue: 2
Pages: 335-346

Researcher Affiliations

Lightbody, Kirsty L
  • Austin Davis Biologics, Great Addington, UK.
Davis, Paul J
  • Austin Davis Biologics, Great Addington, UK.
Austin, Corrine J
  • Austin Davis Biologics, Great Addington, UK.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Helminth / analysis
  • Cestoda / immunology
  • Cestode Infections / diagnosis
  • Cestode Infections / veterinary
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / veterinary
  • Horse Diseases / diagnosis
  • Horse Diseases / parasitology
  • Horses
  • Immunoglobulin G / analysis
  • Immunoglobulin G / immunology
  • Saliva / immunology

Citations

This article has been cited 15 times.
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