Utility of a rapid immunochromatographic strip test in detecting canine parvovirus infection compared with polymerase chain reaction.

AIM: The present study was undertaken to detect the presence of canine parvovirus (CPV) in fecal samples of diarrheic dogs by conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immunochromatographic (IC) strip test and to compare the diagnostic potential of these tests. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 50 fecal samples collected from diarrheic dogs suspected for CPV infection were subjected to PCR using CPV-555 primer amplifying the gene coding for the VP1 protein. These samples were also tested by IC strip test using a commercial rapid Ag test kit. The results were statistically analyzed using McNemar test. RESULTS: A total of 22 samples (44%) were detected as positive by PCR, which yielded a specific amplicon of 583 bp. In IC strip test, 18 (36%) samples were found to be positive. The sensitivity of the test as compared to PCR was found to be 72.22% and specificity was 92.86%. Positive predictive value and negative predictive value of IC strip test was found to be 88.89% and 81.25%, respectively. Statistical analysis of the results of PCR and IC assay using McNemar test revealed no significant difference (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: The IC strip test could be employed as a rapid field level diagnostic tool for the diagnosis of canine parvoviral diarrhea.