MegaELISA® LEISH canine

The visceral leishmaniosis of the dog is caused by the protozoon Leishmania infantum world-wide. Dogs and other canines are considered to be the reservoir for leishmaniasis in humans (zoonosis). To date leishmaniosis was known in Leishmania free regions as a pure travel or import disease. New investigations show increased sporadic occurring autochthonous cases of leishmaniosis in so far Leishmania free regions.

The vectors, sandflies (Phlebotominae), admittedly need a subtropical to tropical climate, which however is not geographically dependent on such climatic zones. There are first scientific verified discoveries of sandflies in temperate zones. Furthermore, an infection via mating (urine/sperm), via diaplacentar transmission and via blood transfusion are discussed.

The Leishmania, transmitted by the bite of sand-flies, infest and reproduce in macrophages and cells of the reticuloendothelial system (among others liver, spleen, bone marrow, lymph nodes). Dependent on the Leishmania zymodeme and the immune status of the dog, there are variable clinical symptoms with dermatological (various skin and claw alterations) and visceral (apathy, fever, nose bleeding, lameness, kidney failure) manifestations.

Due to the individual extremely variable incubation times, from a few months to several years, infected animals can be free of symptoms during that time. The detection of Leishmania antibodies can be an indication of a developing or existing infection. Thus, suspected animals and animals from endemic leishmaniosis regions (travel or import) should be tested serologically for antibodies repeatedly in an interval of 2–4 weeks.

Animals from endemic areas and asymptomatic animals can show borderline to weak antibody titre (“seroprevalence”), whereas clinical diseased animals show a clear increase of titre between two tests (“disease prevalence”). Therefore, the indirect detection of antibodies with MegaELISA® LEISH canine gets a greater diagnostic importance.

Due to the innovation of a Leishmania vaccine, it is required to determine the antibody titre status of the dog before vaccination to get a decision “vaccination or no vaccination” adequate to the guidelines of the vaccine manufacturer.

Based on its high sensitivity and specificity, the MegaELISA® LEISH canine perfectly fits as test for veterinary laboratories for the fast and standardised routine test of antibodies against Leishmania infantum in plasma or serum of the dog.

• Test Principle :  ELISA
• Packaging :  48
• Pathogenic :  Leishmania infantum