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Canine real-time detection of SARS-CoV-2 infections in the context of a mass screening event.
Ten Hagen, Nele Alexandra; Twele, Friederike; Meller, Sebastian; Wijnen, Lisa; Schulz, Claudia; Schoneberg, Clara; Kreienbrock, Lothar; von Köckritz-Blickwede, Maren; Osterhaus, Albert; Boeck, Anna-Lena; Boeck, Konstantin; Bonda, Viktoria; Pilchová, Veronika; Kaiser, Franziska Karola; Gonzalez Hernandez, Mariana; Ebbers, Hans; Hinsenkamp, Julia; Pink, Isabell; Drick, Nora; Welte, Tobias; Manns, Michael Peter; Illig, Thomas; Puyskens, Andreas; Nitsche, Andreas; Ernst, Christiane; Engels, Michael; Schalke, Esther; Volk, Holger Andreas.
  • Ten Hagen NA; Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany.
  • Twele F; Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany.
  • Meller S; Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany.
  • Wijnen L; Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany.
  • Schulz C; Research Centre for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany.
  • Schoneberg C; Department of Biometry, Epidemiology and Information Processing, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany.
  • Kreienbrock L; Department of Biometry, Epidemiology and Information Processing, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany.
  • von Köckritz-Blickwede M; Research Centre for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany.
  • Osterhaus A; Department of Biochemistry, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany.
  • Boeck AL; Research Centre for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany.
  • Boeck K; Schnelltestzentrum Hannover, Hannover, Germany.
  • Bonda V; Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
  • Pilchová V; Schnelltestzentrum Hannover, Hannover, Germany.
  • Kaiser FK; Schnelltestzentrum Hannover, Hannover, Germany.
  • Gonzalez Hernandez M; Research Centre for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany.
  • Ebbers H; Research Centre for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany.
  • Hinsenkamp J; Research Centre for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany.
  • Pink I; Kynoscience UG, Hörstel, Germany.
  • Drick N; Department of Health, Hannover Region, Hannover, Germany.
  • Welte T; Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
  • Manns MP; Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
  • Illig T; Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
  • Puyskens A; Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
  • Nitsche A; Hannover Unified Biobank, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
  • Ernst C; Centre for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens ZBS 1, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany.
  • Engels M; Centre for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens ZBS 1, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany.
  • Schalke E; Bundeswehr School of Dog Handling, Ulmen, Germany.
  • Volk HA; Bundeswehr School of Dog Handling, Ulmen, Germany.
BMJ Glob Health ; 7(11)2022 11.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2119458
ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION:

Previous research demonstrated that medical scent detection dogs have the ability to distinguish SARS-CoV-2 positive from negative samples with high diagnostic accuracy. To deploy these dogs as a reliable screening method, it is mandatory to examine if canines maintain their high diagnostic accuracy in real-life screening settings. We conducted a study to evaluate the performance of medical scent detection dogs under real-life circumstances.

METHODS:

Eight dogs were trained to detect SARS-CoV-2 RT-qPCR-positive samples. Four concerts with a total of 2802 participants were held to evaluate canines' performance in screening individuals for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Sweat samples were taken from all participants and presented in a line-up setting. In addition, every participant had been tested with a SARS-CoV-2 specific rapid antigen test and a RT-qPCR and they provided information regarding age, sex, vaccination status and medical disease history. The participants' infection status was unknown at the time of canine testing. Safety measures such as mask wearing and distance keeping were ensured.

RESULTS:

The SARS-CoV-2 detection dogs achieved a diagnostic specificity of 99.93% (95% CI 99.74% to 99.99%) and a sensitivity of 81.58% (95% CI 66.58% to 90.78%), respectively. The overall rate of concordant results was 99.68%. The majority of the study population was vaccinated with varying vaccines and vaccination schemes, while several participants had chronic diseases and were under chronic medication. This did not influence dogs' decisions.

CONCLUSION:

Our results demonstrate that SARS-CoV-2 scent detection dogs achieved high diagnostic accuracy in a real-life scenario. The vaccination status, previous SARS-CoV-2 infection, chronic disease and medication of the participants did not influence the performance of the dogs in detecting the acute infection. This indicates that dogs provide a fast and reliable screening option for public events in which high-throughput screening is required.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: COVID-19 Type of study: Diagnostic study / Experimental Studies / Prognostic study Topics: Vaccines Limits: Animals / Humans Language: English Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Bmjgh-2022-010276

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: COVID-19 Type of study: Diagnostic study / Experimental Studies / Prognostic study Topics: Vaccines Limits: Animals / Humans Language: English Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Bmjgh-2022-010276