Canine Leishmania Antibody Test Card (Colloidal Gold Method)

Target and Hazard: Leishmania spp. (most commonly Leishmania infantum) is transmitted by the bite of sandflies, and the dog is an important reservoir host and source of infection. Infection in dogs usually runs a chronic course with progressive weight loss, rough coat, alopecia and skin ulceration, lymphadenopathy, anaemia and renal impairment, progressing to visceral leishmaniasis in severe cases. The disease is zoonotic: infected dogs can transmit the parasite to humans via sandflies, which is of particular public-health importance in endemic areas where human control is the focus, as well as in Mediterranean and South American regions. Infected dogs often carry the parasite long-term and early signs are atypical, favouring missed diagnosis.

Significance of Testing: The card detects Leishmania-specific antibodies in canine serum for infection screening in endemic areas, as an aid to diagnosis of suspected cases and for surveying carriage in dog populations. It helps identify carrier dogs so that antiparasitic treatment, sandfly control and isolation can be applied, reducing transmission to humans and susceptible dogs. A positive antibody result indicates prior exposure or infection with Leishmania and, where necessary, should be interpreted together with clinical signs and laboratory findings.

Principle: Colloidal gold immunochromatographic assay (indirect format): the test line (T) is coated with Leishmania-specific antigen; antibodies in the sample bind to gold-labelled anti-dog IgG, migrate along the membrane and are captured by the antigen at the T line, producing a visible line; the control line (C) confirms reagent and procedure validity.

Performance and Applications: No instrument required; whole blood, serum or plasma samples; visual reading within 10–15 minutes; stored and shipped at room temperature — suitable for on-site screening in veterinary clinics in endemic areas, animal disease control institutions, border quarantine and primary veterinary units. Method: colloidal gold immunochromatographic assay (indirect format) | Samples: whole blood, serum or plasma | Time to result: 10–15 min | Reading: visual assessment of T/C lines — a coloured T line indicates a positive result, C line is the procedural control | Format: tests/box (as stated on the label) | Storage: 2–30 °C, cool and dry; shelf life 24 months | Note: sensitivity, specificity, limit of detection, intra-/inter-assay CV and agreement with IFAT/pathogen detection are subject to our internal QC report.