Dogs infected with Leishmania infantum, a parasite transmitted by the sand fly Phlebotomus perniciosus, are at risk for spreading leishmaniasis infections to humans. A new test, described and evaluated this week in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, provides an easier-than-ever way to test dogs for exposure to P. perniciosus sand flies, and could be used in monitoring the effectiveness of sand fly control efforts.

Canine leishmaniasis (CanL) is a severe multi-systemic disease of dogs that has been reported throughout countries in Latin America, Europe, and Asia. Over 2.5 million dogs are estimated to be infected in southern Europe and the infection is difficult to treat. Control efforts often revolve around targeting sand fly populations. Current ELISA tests, for the presence of a P. perniciosus sand fly saliva protein, are limited to use in a laboratory -- rather than field -- setting.

In the new work, Laura Willen, of Charles University, Czech Republic, and colleagues prepared an immunochromatographic test (ICT) to rapidly screen dogs for the presence of P. perniciosus. The ICT detects the same antibodies against the fly's salivary protein -- SP03B -- as an existing ELISA test. To optimize the test, the team used 53 laboratory-bred Beagles that had either been exposed or unexposed to 200 P. perniciosus sand flies.

When they compared the ICT to two existing ELISA tests, results were in nearly 100% agreement and the ICT was found to have a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 86.79%. Raising the detection limit of the test would lead to a specificity of 96.23% without changing the sensitivity.

"This test is easily operated with no requirements for skilled personnel or specialized equipment," the researchers say. "In order to confirm the field detection accuracy and applicability of the test, further evaluation of canine populations exposed to various frequencies of sand fly bites and validation of the test with whole canine blood is required."