Comparison of immunochromatographic rapid test with molecular method in diagnosis of canine parvovirus

ABSTRACT

Canine parvovirus [CPV] infection is one of the most common causes of infectious gastroenteritis in dogs and is a highly contagious, often fatal disease. The original virus[CPV type 2] has had some mutations since its emergence and new variants [CP V-2a, 2b and 2c] have been reported from many countries all around the world. Early diagnosis and treatment can profoundly affect the disease outcome. To compare the ability of Immunochromatographic [1C] test to detect CPV infection in 50 PCR positive samples [n=50] with regard to virus strains. 50 rectal swabs [n=50] were prepared from suspicious dogs and subjected to PCR and 1C test respectively. The sensitivity of 1C test in PCR positive samples was 84% [42 out of 50 samples] and the positive predictive value of the test was 100%. Using PCR, CPV strains in our study were 2a [18/50,36%] and 2b [32/50,64%] with the predominance of 2b strain. 1C test was also able to diagnose 15/18 [83.3%] of CPV-2a and 27/32 [84.3%] CPV-2b strain positive samples, which means 1C test can detect CPV infections caused by both virus strains [2a and 2b], without significant difference. This study shows that 1C test results are relatively reliable for diagnosing CPV infection in daily veterinary practice and the test is able to diagnose both CP V-2a and CP V-2b which are prevalent strains in Iran