Rapid test for canine visceral leishmaniasis using lipophosphoglycan (TR-LVC-LPG)

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is considered one of the most neglected diseases in the world, affecting humans and other mammals. Dogs are the main domestic link of visceral leishmaniasis, and the main source of infection. Currently, there is great difficulty in diagnosing asymptomatic dogs, which makes it difficult to control the disease. The currently available test detects only 60% of infected dogs that do not show clinical manifestations. 

The technology is about the development of the TR-LVC-LPG Kit, a “point of care” method developed from a non-protein antigen, lipophosphoglycan. The method has a sensitivity of 91.7%; 98.5% specificity; and accuracy of 99.7%. In this way, it is capable of properly distinguishing sera from sick infected dogs from those infected and clinically healthy. The test also showed low cross-reactivity when samples from dogs infected with other infectious agents were tested.