Introduction
Canine Leptospirosis is a potentially lethal infectious disease caused by Leptospira interrogans. It exists several serotypes of spirochetes that can infect dogs namely: L. canicola, L. icterohaemorrhagiae, L. grippotyphosa and L. pomona. This bacteria is also responsible for zoonosis. The major contamination route is contact with contaminated urine. The rat is the principal reservoir of this bacteria. Adult dogs of large breeds are predisposed to the disease. The prepatent period is 7 days on average (4 to 12 days). The severity of clinical signs may vary and the form can be hyperacute, acute or chronic. Hemorrhagic gastroenteritis, disorders of primary and secondary coagulation, liver insufficiency (icterus) and/or kidney insufficiency can also be observed. The symptomatology of the disease can be general (weakness, anorexia, fever, ...) or local (uveitis, vasculitis, ...).
Vaccination offers an interesting but relative protection. The protocol must be subject to a risk/benefit analysis.
Test Objective
The objective of this test is to detect IgM against Leptospira spp. in the dog’s whole blood, serum or plasma. The detection of these antibodies is measured by qualitative immunochromatographic solid phase (nitrocellulose). Use of this test is particularly interesting for the detection of the hyperacute and acute form of canine leptospirosis. The chronic form is more related to the level of IgG.
Characteristics and benefits of the test-it
- display box
- rapid diagnosis: immunochromatography in one-step (LFI)
- result exclusively between 5 and 10 minutes
- storage and use at room temperature
- 2 or 5 tests per box without expensive equipment required
- high quality material, entirely produced and controlled at the same manufacturing site, which increases the sensitivity and specificity of the test.
Contents of the display box
- 2 or 5 “Eppendorf” tubes for collecting blood
- 2 or 5 tests containing each a test device and a pipette for sample taking
- 1 buffer