Direct agglutination test (DAT) was performed to confirm the presence of VL infection at a time of patient visit.
Besides that, the design values of the shear strength derived from test results (DAT) were considerably higher than the design shear resistance provided by design codes.
For this, all dogs that had either a positive gel test or DAT were categorized clinically as having: (1) idiopathic IMHA, (2) secondary IMHA, or (3) anaemia that was not immune-mediated (no IMHA).
Typically patients exhibit anaemia with reticulocytosis, spherocytes and polychromasia on the blood film with a positive direct antiglobulin test (DAT) which is the hallmark [ 1], in addition there is often increased unconjugated serum bilirubin and elevated serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH).
Both the gel test and the DAT were performed within 24 hrs of receipt of the samples.
The DAT is a computerized test and can be scheduled year-round.
Despite the fact that the DAT is an accepted test for the diagnosis of IMHA [ 2], it is by no means internationally standardized.
A probabilistic approach was followed to derive the corresponding design value of the shear strength (a procedure herein named by Design Assisted by Testing, DAT), which was then compared with the design shear strength determined according to recommendations of RILEM, EHE and FIB.
This suggests that DAT is a more preferred test for assessing the risk factors in camels than ELISA.
Moreover, diagnostic tests for canine VL, including cytology and DAT, were almost exclusively performed in our clinic.
