Laboratory diagnosis of mange-causing mites in dogs using a modified centrifugation-flotation technique in sucrose solution

• Published in: Experimental & applied acarology 2021-09, Vol.85 (1), p.41-48
• Main Authors: Alvares, Felipe Boniedj Ventura, Meireles, Vivian Silva Rosa Veleda, da Silva, Juliana Trajano, Ferreira, Larissa Claudino, Rodrigues, Jossiara Abrante, Bezerra, Roberto Alves, Lima, Brendo Andrade, Feitosa, Thais Ferreira, Vilela, Vinícius Longo Ribeiro
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal Ecology; Animal Genetics and Genomics; Animal Systematics/Taxonomy/Biogeography; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Centrifugation; Diagnosis; Dogs; Entomology; Flotation; Life Sciences; Mites; Parasitic diseases; Scabies; Semi arid areas; Semiarid lands; Skin diseases; Statistical analysis; Statistical methods; Sucrose
• ISSN: 0168-8162; 1572-9702
• DOI: 10.1007/s10493-021-00659-7

Among the skin disorders of dogs, scabies is notable for its high occurrence rate and the need for veterinary interventions. There are two obstacles to making this diagnosis through direct investigation under a microscope (DIM): the continual need to make new slides when the results are negative and the long time needed for reading these slides. Thus, the objective of the present study was to compare efficacy between DIM and the technique of centrifugation-flotation in sucrose solution (CFSS) in samples from dogs in the semiarid region of the state of Paraíba, Brazil. Samples from 136 dogs were used, and three slides were made for each examination (DIM and CFSS). The readings were halted in cases of positivity. Positive samples were obtained from 56.6% of the dogs (77/136), of which 76.6% (59/77) were positive through both techniques, 13% (10/77) only through DIM and 10.4% (8/77) only through CFSS. The positivity rate did not differ statistically between the techniques. CFSS showed higher quality of readings, due to the considerably fewer artifacts on the slides, thereby optimizing the reading time. Sensitivity (85.6%), specificity (88.1%), accuracy (86.8%), positive predictive value (88.1%) and negative predictive value (85.1%) were obtained and the kappa coefficient (0.73) was considered substantial. It was concluded that CFSS showed high diagnostic capacity for scabies, similar to that of DIM, with optimized reading time, fewer artifacts and better display of mites.