Improved veterinary diagnostics for tapeworms

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Dogs can be infected with several species of tapeworms, but show no obvious symptoms. Tapeworms aregenerally diagnosed by detection of microscopic eggs produced by the parasites that are passed in the dog'sstool. However, this technique is not ideal, as eggs are not always passed in stool, different tapeworms producevisually similar eggs, and this requires an experienced diagnostician. Therefore, false negatives are common.There is increasing interest in techniques to directly detect DNA of parasites in stool of dogs. AquilaDiagnostics Systems Inc. has developed a point of care tapeworm test for use in veterinary clinics that wouldenable rapid detection of DNA of tapeworms (the AccutasVET Tapeworm DNA kit). The utility of this test hasnot been confirmed by applying the test to samples from canids known to be infected with confirmed tapewormspecies, nor to samples that contain other parasites that could cross react. The only way the company cancurrently validate the new test is against traditional fecal flotation for tapeworm eggs, which is in itself flawed.We have access to trapped wild canids (foxes, coyotes, and wolves) for which we will compare results ofintestinal tapeworm recovery, egg detection on fecal flotation, and the AccutasVET Tapeworm DNA kit. Sincewild canids harbour the same species of tapeworms as dogs, this has important applications for veterinariansand veterinary diagnostic laboratories, allowing rapid diagnosis and treatment of infected dogs. This work alsohas implications for protecting public health as some tapeworms in dogs in Canada (Echinococcus spp.) cancause serious health problems in people. Consequently, we will specifically compare the performance of theAquila product with the proposed new European gold standard DNA-based test for Echinococcusmultilocularis. Our joint research will serve to improve and optimize the Aquila AccutasVET product, lead toexpanded applications and regulatory claims for this product, and lay the groundwork for development of newcommercial products. Finally, this research project will generate new knowledge on the distribution and impactof parasites transmissible to people and dogs in Canada.