[Western blot, ELISA and indirect immunofluorescence test evaluation of Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum-infected dogs].

OBJECTIVE

Evaluating canine visceral leishmaniasis diagnostic test performance in Colombia and adapting the Western blot test in naturally and experimentally infected dogs.

METHODS

Sera were obtained from 10 experimentally L. Infantum-infected dogs, 5 naturally infected dogs, 16 healthy dogs, 26 Babesia canis, Erhlichia canis, Dirofilaria immitis, Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania (Viannia) spp infected dogs, 40 dogs from non-endemic areas and 150 from endemic areas. Sera were tested for L. infantum infection using immunofluorescent antibody (IFAT), ELISA and Western blot (WB) tests.

RESULTS

Positives results were obtained for 73 % of known infected dogs by the IFAT test and false positives were obtained for 2.5 % of non-infected dogs using WB. ELISA was not efficient for diagnosis. 24 antigenic fractions were recognised in tested sera using WB; however, 29, 34, 50, 69, 75, 86, 99 and 123 kDa bands were recognised in sera from dogs from non-endemic areas, healthy dogs and Trypanosoma cruzi, Erhlichia canis, Dirofilaria immitis and Babesia canis infected dogs. The 13 kDa fraction proved potentially useful for diagnosing canine visceral leishmaniasis.

CONCLUSIONS

The separate use of parasitological and serological test could lead to misdiagnosis of Leishmania infection; using both kinds of technique simultaneously is thus highly recommended.