Authors : E. Bollo , A.Allione , S.Bo , M.Vozza and I. Luaces L?pez
Abstract: Two one-step immunochromatographic (IC) tests were developed for the detection of Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) antibodies and Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) antigen respectively, on serum (for FIV) and on serum and whole blood (for FeLV) feline samples. Two panels of sera were evaluated by a comparative test with 3 commercially available IC tests and 4 commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). The results of the evaluation showed an agreement between the FIV-IC and the other IC tests and the ELISA between 95.4 and 97.3%, whereas the agreement between the FeLV-IC and the other IC tests and ELISA varied between 93.7 and 100%. Further analysis of serum samples comparing the FIV-IC test with an ELISA reference test yielded a sensitivity of 94.7% and a specificity of 96.1%, whereas comparing the FeLV-IC test with an ELISA reference test, the same samples yielded both a sensitivity and a specificity of 100%. The advantages offered by the IC test (rapidity, easiness to perform and to interpret, as wells as low cost) make the test itself a useful tool for diagnosing feline retroviral infections.
E. Bollo , A.Allione , S.Bo , M.Vozza and I. Luaces L?pez , 2003. Evaluation of Rapid Immunochromatographic Tests for Serological Diagnosis of Feline Immunodeficiency Virus and Feline Leukemia Virus Infection in Cats . Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 2: 496-501.