Desempenho do teste imunocromatográfico rápido DPP® - Dual Path Platform para diagnóstico da leishmaniose visceral canina e reação cruzada com hemoparasitos

Abstract

The immunochromatographic rapid test based on dual-path platform (Dual Path Platform DPP®) is the official screening serological test for canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) used by the Ministry of Health as part of the Brazilian visceral leishmaniasis control program. In this study the performance of DPP® test was assessed for the diagnosis of CVL and compared with an immunoenzymatic assay (ELISA) and an indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) which used L. infantum crude antigens. The specificity of DPP® was evaluated using serum samples collected from unexposed dogs from non-endemic area (n=74) and from dogs infected with hemoparasites (Babesia canis, Ehrlichia canis, Hepatozoon canis, Mycoplasma haemocanis and Anaplasma platys) (n=46). Sixty serum samples from Leishmania infantum naturally infected dogs with parasitological diagnosis confirmed (cytological examinations and specific PCR of bone marrow aspirates) were used to evaluate the sensitivity. The DPP® showed higher specificity [DPP®: 98.33%; ELISA: 90.0%; IFA: 96.67%] and lower sensitivity [(DPP®: 93.33%; ELISA: 100%; IFA: 98.33%] than the traditional serological assays. When compared to IFA and ELISA, DPP® showed good diagnostic performance which qualifies it as a reliable serological test for CVL diagnosis. Despite of its feasibility, the higher specificity of DPP® suggests that this test should be used as a confirmatory instead a screening tool in VL control programs. Furthermore, when used as confirmatory test DPP® could diminishes the rates of culling false-positives dogs.