INTENDED USE

Canine Heartworm (CHW), Dirofilaria immitis, is a parasitic mosquito-borne nematode that causes canine dirofilariasis worldwide. Adult D. immitis lives in the right side of the heart, the pulmonary artery, and associated blood vessels of infected dogs, causing pulmonary hypertension, congestive heart failure, and damage to other organs.

SUMMARY

D. immitis harbors intracellular bacteria named Wolbachia pipientis, a Gram-negative bacteria. Wolbachia has the potential to play an important role in the pathogenesis and immune response to filarial infection. The immunopathology of filarial disease is extremely complex and the clinical manifestations of infection are strongly dependent on the type of immune response elicited by the parasite. Dogs show a mild persistent cough, reluctance to exercise, fatigue after moderate activity, decreased appetite, and weight loss at the early stage of the infection. If CHW infected dogs are not treated, large numbers of heartworms can develop a sudden blockage of blood flow within the heart leading to a life-threatening form of cardiovascular collapse. CHW is a zoonotic parasite and is transmitted by mosquitoes. D. immitis is responsible for human pulmonary dirofilariasis throughout the world.

PRINCIPLE

CHW Ag Test Kit is a lateral flow chromatographic immunoassay for the qualitative detection of canine heartworm antigens in canine blood. This kit shows two letters which are the test (T) line and the control (C) line on the surface of the device. If the CHW antigen exists in the sample, it binds to the gold-conjugated anti-canine CHW antibody. The antigen-antibody complex moves through the membrane by capillary force and responds to the CHW monoclonal antibody on the test line, resulting in a red line. The control line indicates that the test is performed correctly and should appear when the test is complete. The highly selective and sensitive monoclonal antibody to D. immitis is used as capture in the kit. The CHW Ag Test Kit can detect CHW antigens in canine blood with high accuracy.