RAPID DIAGNOSIS OF BABESIA GIBSONI USING POINT-OF-CARE INSULATED ISOTHERMIC POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION ASSAY

摘要

Babesia gibsoni is commonly identified in pit bull-type dogs, particularly those involved in dogfights. Dogs seized from fighting operations undergo health and behavior evaluations to assess suitability for adoption. Adoption carries the risk for sending dogs harboring infectious diseases to unsuspecting owners or to regions where the infections are not endemic. Screening large numbers of dogs for infectious diseases is expensive and it may be days before results are available. A more rapid and cost-effective diagnostic test would make identification and treatment of B. gibsoni infected dogs more feasible for rescue organizations. Recently, the development of insulated isothermic PCR (iiPCR) has made mobile PCR a reality. The purpose of this study was to determine performance of the POCKIT~RiiPCR system for diagnosis of B. gibsoni in dogs rescued from fighting organizations.