2016 ACVIM Forum Research Abstract Program

The present study compared the performance of three in-clinic tests, the SNAPÒ Giardia Test, the VetScan Ò Canine Giardia Rapid Test (Abaxis), and the Anigen Ò Rapid CPV/CCV/Giardia Antigen Test (BioNote). Canine fecal samples used were submitted to IDEXX Reference Laboratories for ova and parasite testing by centrifugal flotation. After testing, the samples were stored at À20°C. The samples were then evaluated for soluble cyst wall antigen using the Thermo ScientificTM ProSpecTTM Giardia Microplate Assay. Positive samples were defined as those testing positive by both reference methods while negative samples were defined as those testing negative on both reference methods. A total of 95 positive samples and 81 negative samples were identified and tested on all three in-clinic tests. Six samples were excluded from sensitivity/specificity analysis because they failed to produce positive control lines on the VetScan Ò Test, despite producing valid results on the other two in-clinic tests. Results were compared to the consensus reference method results for calculation of sensitivity and specificity. Using these criteria, the SNAP Giardia Test had numerically greater sensitivity and specificity than the other 2 tests. This study used another antigen test in the definition of true positive and true negative results since the samples were not fresh fecals; and not tested using a different test method like immunofluorescent antibody assay. Anaplasma phagocytophilum (Aph) and Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb) are pathogenic bacteria vectored by Ixodes spp. and are known to infect cats. While associations between Bb infections and feline clinical syndromes are unclear, studies have demonstrated Aph infection to be associated with fever, severe lethargy, and thrombocytopenia in cats. The present study aimed to evaluate the seroprevalence of antibodies to Aph and Bb in a large population of domestic cats from across the United States to better understand their risk of exposure to these agents.