VETERINARY RAPID DIAGNOSTIC TESTS

Biolive Innovation is conducting activities aimed at obtaining an antigen that will be used to create an optoelectronic sensor for a rapid detection system for Babesiosis in animals. The company is implementing a project entitled Development of a system of biotechnological rapid diagnostic tests used in veterinary medicine under activity 1.2 Targeted research. Project objectives: The aim of the project is to develop technology and rapid diagnostic tests for babesiosis, which will constitute an innovation in the diagnosis of this disease. Planned effects: The project aims to solve the problems of detecting babesiosis in dogs.

 

Compared to the current state of technology and the current available methods, newly developed technology and diagnostic devices based on direct detection of antigen against Babesia protozoa in the blood of tested animals Babesiosis, along with Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis, and dirofilariosis, are transmissible diseases transmitted by arthropods. In our climatic conditions, the main carriers of the above diseases are ticks (with the exception of dirofilariosis transmitted by mosquitoes). Of the above entities, babesiosis is the biggest problem in veterinary medicine for dogs. This disease is recorded with the highest frequency in this species of animals among all vector diseases, and in many cases its diagnosis and therapy are a challenge for veterinarians. That is why we have undertaken work aimed at developing a rapid diagnostic test for babesiosis. The test will allow for early diagnosis of the disease, implementation of targeted treatment, which will consequently translate into higher treatment effectiveness, limit the development of complications accompanying babesiosis and reduce the percentage of animal deaths. Based on previous experience with proteins, we are attempting to isolate proteins specific to the parasite invasion and use them to stimulate the immune response in mouse (or rabbit) cells in cell culture conditions. The proteins (antibodies) obtained as a result of this procedure directed against the antigen will be purified and used to produce a rapid strip test for detecting B. canis infection in dogs during routine veterinary examinations. At the same time, a device will be designed and manufactured that will enable quick and repeatable reading of the strip test results and their processing based on a database system.