MiraVista Diagnostics’ Blastomyces Antigen Test for Dogs Accurately and Quickly Diagnosed Blastomycosis in a German Shepherd

Clinician’s Brief published an article in December 2014 about a case of blastomycosis in a German shepherd. The case report describes a classic example of blastomycosis in a dog with a cutaneous lesion and a nodular interstitial pattern on thoracic radiographs. As an ancillary diagnostic to cytology, MiraVista Diagnostics’ Blastomyces antigen test for dogs (MVista® Blastomyces Quantitative EIA) was performed on urine from this patient. The article highlights the very limited (but possible) zoonotic transmission of Blastomyces through needlestick injury or contaminated bandage materials or surfaces in the clinic environment.

Blastomyces Antigen Test for Dogs is Highly Sensitive, Specific, Cost Effective + Rapid

Identification of Blastomyces yeasts through cytology or histology remains the gold standard for diagnosis of blastomycosis; however, other diagnostics are very useful in cases in which identification is unclear or sample acquisition is not feasible. For this purpose, MiraVista Diagnostics’ Blastomyces antigen test for dogs (MVista® Blastomyces Quantitative EIA) is highly sensitive and specific, cost effective and rapid. Culture of Blastomyces has a slow turnaround time and is often not recommended due to the risk of zoonotic infection (requiring biosafety level 2 containment facilities). Molecular methods (polymerase chain reaction; PCR) for Blastomyces are available from at least one commercial source; however, no external validation has been performed, nor are there any peer-reviewed studies to show the sensitivity and specificity of this PCR test.

Monitoring of the MVista® Blastomyces antigen test for dogs is also beneficial during antifungal therapy for blastomycosis, as the urine antigen concentration is expected to decline with successful treatment. Urine antigen concentration can also be used as an indicator of relapse following discontinuation of antifungal therapy.

Visit the Clinical Resources section on this website to review MiraVista Diagnostics’ scientific research results about Blastomyces antigen tests that were published in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine.