2016 ACVIM Forum Research Abstract Program

PREVALENCE OF DIROFILARIA IMMITIS ANTIGEN IN CLIENT-OWNED PET DOGS BEFORE AND AFTER SERUM HEAT TREATMENT. Laura Nafe, Susan Little, Paul DeMars, Ryan Baumwart, Nalani Yamada, Eileen Johnson. Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, USA Pet dogs are routinely screened for heartworm disease as a component of annual wellness evaluation. Recent evidence suggests that antigen-antibody complexes in canine serum may preclude accurate diagnosis of heartworm disease with commercially available Dirofilaria immitis antigen assays. The objective of this study was to determine whether normal dogs presenting to the Oklahoma State Veterinary Teaching Hospital Community Practice Service for annual veterinary care warrant heat treatment of serum to confirm a negative heartworm antigen test by 4DX Snap (Idexx). Serum and EDTA samples were collected from 201 clientowned pet dogs between December 2014 and October 2015. Dogs ranged in age from 10 months to 15 years (median 4 yrs) and included 108 males and 93 females. Complete survey results (available for 194/201 dogs) revealed 139 dogs (72%) received heartworm preventative regularly over the past year. All EDTA samples were evaluated for microfilaria and serum samples for D. immitis antigen before and after heat treatment using a commericial assay (DiroCHEK, Zoetis). Four dogs (2%) tested positive for D. immitis antigen on 4DX Snap Test (Idexx) and 2 were microfilaremic. On DiroCHEK antigen testing 2 dogs were positive before and after heat treatment, 1 dog was positive after heat treatment only, and 1 dog was negative before and after heat treatment despite being microfilaremic. One dog received heartworm preventative (Heartgard; Merial) regularly (2/12 doses missed). Heat treatment does not appear to improve detection of D. immitis antigen in asymptomatic pet dogs undergoing routine heartworm disease testing with 4DX Snap Test (Idexx). of the mechanisms behind increased concentrations of these cardiac biomarkers in azotemic dogs is warranted for correct interpretation of test results. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between measured glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and plasma concentrations of cTnI and NT-proBNP in stable canine CKD patients.