02633: Validation and Diagnostic Performance of a Novel Monoclonal Antibody based Histoplasma Urine Immunoassay in Dogs with Histoplasmosis
Grant Status: Closed
One Health: Yes
Abstract
Histoplasmosis is a severe disease caused by the fungus Histoplasma capsulatum that can be fatal to dogs. The fungus is found in soil and dust around the world and most commonly in the Midwestern, Southern, and Southeastern U.S. Dogs contract the disease when they inhale spores produced by the fungus in the environment. The most common method of diagnosis is by finding the fungal organism in tissue or body fluid samples. Unfortunately, collecting these samples can be invasive and is not always feasible, depending on the location of the infection and the severity of illness. A commercial urine test for diagnosis in dogs, cats, and humans to aid diagnosis, is of limited availability. The current cost of testing, especially when repeated, can be prohibitive for some pet-owners. There is a need for an affordable test that is more widely available for dogs This study aims to develop and describe the performance of a non-invasive, in-house Histoplasma urine test for dogs to address this important disease.
Publication(s)
Clark, K., & Hanzlicek, A. S. (2020). Evaluation of a novel monoclonal antibody-based enzyme immunoassay for detection of Histoplasma antigen in urine of dogs. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.16006
Help Future Generations of Dogs
Participate in canine health research by providing samples or by enrolling in a clinical trial. Samples are needed from healthy dogs and dogs affected by specific diseases.