Comparison of Anaplasma and Ehrlichia species–specific peptide ELISAs with whole organism–based immunofluorescent assays for serologic diagnosis of anaplasmosis and ehrlichiosis in dogs

Abstract OBJECTIVE To compare the performance of 5 synthetic peptide–based ELISAs with that 3 commercially available immunofluorescent assays (IFAs) for serologic diagnosis anaplasmosis and ehrlichiosis in dogs. SAMPLE A convenience set 109 serum samples obtained before at various times after inoculation 23 dogs were experimentally infected Anaplasma phagocytophilum, platys, Ehrlichia canis, chaffeensis , or ewingii 1 uninfected control dog previous studies. PROCEDURES All assessed designed to detect antibodies against E whole organism–based IFAs canis chaffeensis. The species-specific seroreactivity, cross-reactivity other tick-borne pathogens (TBPs), diagnostic sensitivity specificity calculated each assay compared among assays. RESULTS from a TBP yielded positive results on specific pathogen. In general, was comparable between tended increase duration inoculation. Compared IFAs, corresponding highly rarely cross-reacted TBPs. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results suggested peptide-based had enhanced relative detection spp, which should facilitate accurate may help coinfected multiple