Detection of canine Schistosoma japonicum infection usingrecombinant thioredoxin peroxidase-1 and tandem repeat proteins

摘要

Humans and dogs live very close together and share various pathogens causing zoonoticparasitoses like schistosomiasis. A previous population genetics study done forschistosomes in the Philippines suggested that there is a high transmission level of among humans and dogs proving that the latter areimportant reservoirs for this zoonotic parasite. A more sensitive and specific testdetecting schistosome infection in dogs will therefore strengthen the zoonoticsurveillance, which might help in the possible elimination of this ancient disease. Inthis study, recombinant thioredoxin peroxidase-1 (SjTPx-1) and tandem repeat proteins(Sj1TR, Sj2TR, Sj4TR, Sj7TR) previously tested on human and water buffalo samples wereused to assess its diagnostic applicability to dogs. Fifty-nine dog serum and stoolsamples were collected in the schistosomiasis-endemic municipalities of Calatrava, NegrosOccidental and Catarman, Northern Samar in the Philippines and examined using the ELISA ascompared to microscopy and fecal sample-based PCR. Samples positive for and were also used to check forcross-reaction. Results showed that SjTPx-1 (80% sensitivity, 92.3% specificity) and Sj7TR(73.3% sensitivity, 92.3% specificity) have good potentials for diagnosing infection in dogs. These diagnostic antigens will therefore improvethe surveillance in the transmission of the parasites from dogs to humans.