Articles about American Pit Bull Terrier
...to start reading this article from the beginning please click on here...Diagnosis of CDV
immunofluorescence assay (IFA)
IFA:
For inclusion bodies on conjunctival scrape, buffy coat, urine sediment, traumatic bladder catheterization, transtracheal wash, cerebrospinal fluid (with neurological signs)
Diagnostic value:
Accuracy not affected by vaccination. Positive result very likely to be correct. Negative result does not rule out disease, as false negatives are very common. This test is most useful early in the course of disease. Buffy coat most likely to be positive very early in disease, sometimes before clinical signs appear. Conjunctival and genital (urine or bladder) samples may be positive in first 2-3 weeks of infection. Transtracheal washes may be positive for more than three weeks. Virus persists in central nervous system for at least 60 days.
Serology
IgM: Serum antibodies measured by ELISA.
Diagnostic value:
False positive possible within 3 weeks of vaccination. Otherwise, positive result is a good indicator of distemper infection. IgM antibodies persist for about 5 - 12 weeks in natural disease. False negative results can occur in dogs that die acutely without developing an antibody response, and can also occur in sub-acutely or chronically infected dogs.
IgG:
Serial titers on 2 serum samples taken two weeks apart to detect rising titers (single titer has little diagnostic value).
Diagnostic value:
In a dog known to not have been vaccinated within the past month, rising titers are indicative of infection, and an increase of greater than four fold is indicative of infection even in a recently vaccinated dog. Less dramatic increases in IgG titer may be caused by infection or recent vaccination. False negatives are possible as with IgM.
RT-PCR(reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction)
RT-PCR:: Can detect virus in respiratory secretions, CSF, feces, urine (depending on localization of virus). Available through Idexx as part of shelter respiratory panel.>...to continue reading this article please click on here...
