Development of new recombinant DgK antigen for diagnosis of dirofilaria immitis infections in dogs using ELISA technique and its comparison to molecular methods

ABSTRACT

Background: Dirofilaria immitis is a cosmopolitan zoonotic, vector-borne parasite of carnivorous animals causing dirofilariasis in human beings. Common commercial serodiagnostic tests for canine dirofilariasis usually lead to different results in their sensitivity and specificity. The present study reports development of recombinant DgK [rDgK] antigen of D. immitis for accurate immunodiagnosis of D. Immitis-infected dogs using indirect ELISA test