2015 ACVIM Forum Research Abstract Program

The results for the 2 assays for D. immitis antigen and Ehrlichia spp. antibodies using sera from the 2 regions are listed in the following Table. In the high risk area, agreement between the 2 assays was perfect for D. immitis and good for Ehrlichia spp. In the low risk area, agreement between the assays was worse than chance for Ehrlichia spp. and fair for D. immitis. When both regions were compared the agreement was good for both organisms. In low risk area, the Accuplex 4 detected D. immitis antigen in 4 more dogs than the SNAP4DxPlus. Since necropsy was not available whether this finding represents the previously described increased sensitivity of the Accuplex 4 cannot be determined. In the low risk area, the SNAP4DxPlus detected Ehrlichia spp. antibodies in 4 more dogs than the Accuplex 4. The Accuplex 4 is E. canis specific whereas the SNAP4DXPlus detects antibodies against other organisms like E. ewingii and E. chaffeensis which may explain the discordant results. Bartonella henselae is an important vector borne disease agent associated with clinical disease in many species including humans, cats, and dogs. Cats are a known definitive host and Ctenocephalides felis has been proven as a vector. Bartonella henselae can be grown from C. felis frass for at least 9 days. In a previous experiment, 1 of 4 research beagles was infected by B. henselae after nasal inoculation of infected C. felis frass. As cats frequently ingest C. felis and frass during grooming, the purpose of this study was assess the potential for oral B. henselae transmission after ingestion of infected C. felis.