Studies on the Diagnosis of Canine Filariasis
VI. Takata's Test on Serum in Canine Filariasis and Its Clinical Application
1964 Volume 17 Issue 10 Pages 515-519
Details
1964 Volume 17 Issue 10 Pages 515-519
Positive Takata tests were given by 68.5 per cent of 19 dogs which harbored immature filariae in the heart and lung as a result of experimental infection and which were presumed to be 37 to 48 days of infection. Nine untreated control dogs which had been kept under the same conditions as the infected ones gave all negative results in the same test.
A total of 193 dogs were collected at random from retention compounds and examined for any relationship between Takata test and filariasis. The ratio of positive test was 13.0 per cent among dogs free from the infection. It was 57.9 per cent among those harboring immature worms and 73.0 per cent among those infected with mature worms.
A total of 138 dogs parasitized with filariae were examined for the number of worms harbored and the intensity of the Takata test. Many of the negative reactors were those harboring a relatively small number of filariae. Those infected with a comparatively large number of parasites occupied a greater portion of the positive reactors. There was a tendency that the larger the number of worms harbored, the more intense the Takata test.
Of 12 ascitic dogs at the final stage of filariasis, 95.2 per cent gave positive Takata tests. Intensely positive reactors were found in 61.9 per cent o them.
From the results of the Takata test and clinical symptoms, canine filariae was regarded as consisting of four stages. In stage I, the general clinical symptoms shown included no final-stage symptoms and there were not more than 2 test tubes showing precipitation in the test. The number of test tubes exhibiting positive reaction was 3 to 5 in stage II and 6 or more in stage III. Dogs manifesting final-stage symptoms were classified into those in stage IV, regardless of results of the test.
A total of 106 dogs were examined for frequency of distribution of the number of parasites per capita by the stage of infection. A tendency was observed that the more advanced the stage of infection, the higher became the rate of dogs harboring a relatively large number of worms and the larger the average number of worms harbored by the dogs in the same stage.
