Reference number : GC-2017-Q2-00355, amendment number : , agreement type : G, recipient legal name : Jenkins, Emily (University of Saskatchewan), recipient country : CA, recipient province : nan, recipient city : Saskatchewan, recipient postal code : nan, program name english : Engage Grants for Universities, program name french : Subventions d'engagement partenarial pour les universités, program purpose english : Dogs can be infected with several species of tapeworms, but show no obvious symptoms. Tapeworms are_x000D_
generally diagnosed by detection of microscopic eggs produced by the parasites that are passed in the dog's_x000D_
stool. However, this technique is not ideal, as eggs are not always passed in stool, different tapeworms produce_x000D_
visually similar eggs, and this requires an experienced diagnostician. Therefore, false negatives are common._x000D_
There is increasing interest in techniques to directly detect DNA of parasites in stool of dogs. Aquila_x000D_
Diagnostics Systems Inc. has developed a point of care tapeworm test for use in veterinary clinics that would_x000D_
enable rapid detection of DNA of tapeworms (the AccutasVET Tapeworm DNA kit). The utility of this test has_x000D_
not been confirmed by applying the test to samples from canids known to be infected with confirmed tapeworm_x000D_
species, nor to samples that contain other parasites that could cross react. The only way the company can_x000D_
currently validate the new test is against traditional fecal flotation for tapeworm eggs, which is in itself flawed._x000D_
We have access to trapped wild canids (foxes, coyotes, and wolves) for which we will compare results of_x000D_
intestinal tapeworm recovery, egg detection on fecal flotation, and the AccutasVET Tapeworm DNA kit. Since_x000D_
wild canids harbour the same species of tapeworms as dogs, this has important applications for veterinarians_x000D_
and veterinary diagnostic laboratories, allowing rapid diagnosis and treatment of infected dogs. This work also_x000D_
has implications for protecting public health as some tapeworms in dogs in Canada (Echinococcus spp.) can_x000D_
cause serious health problems in people. Consequently, we will specifically compare the performance of the_x000D_
Aquila product with the proposed new European gold standard DNA-based test for Echinococcus_x000D_
multilocularis. Our joint research will serve to improve and optimize the Aquila AccutasVET product, lead to_x000D_
expanded applications and regulatory claims for this product, and lay the groundwork for development of new_x000D_
commercial products. Finally, this research project will generate new knowledge on the distribution and impact_x000D_
of parasites transmissible to people and dogs in Canada., program purpose french : Dogs can be infected with several species of tapeworms, but show no obvious symptoms. Tapeworms are_x000D_
generally diagnosed by detection of microscopic eggs produced by the parasites that are passed in the dog's_x000D_
stool. However, this technique is not ideal, as eggs are not always passed in stool, different tapeworms produce_x000D_
visually similar eggs, and this requires an experienced diagnostician. Therefore, false negatives are common._x000D_
There is increasing interest in techniques to directly detect DNA of parasites in stool of dogs. Aquila_x000D_
Diagnostics Systems Inc. has developed a point of care tapeworm test for use in veterinary clinics that would_x000D_
enable rapid detection of DNA of tapeworms (the AccutasVET Tapeworm DNA kit). The utility of this test has_x000D_
not been confirmed by applying the test to samples from canids known to be infected with confirmed tapeworm_x000D_
species, nor to samples that contain other parasites that could cross react. The only way the company can_x000D_
currently validate the new test is against traditional fecal flotation for tapeworm eggs, which is in itself flawed._x000D_
We have access to trapped wild canids (foxes, coyotes, and wolves) for which we will compare results of_x000D_
intestinal tapeworm recovery, egg detection on fecal flotation, and the AccutasVET Tapeworm DNA kit. Since_x000D_
wild canids harbour the same species of tapeworms as dogs, this has important applications for veterinarians_x000D_
and veterinary diagnostic laboratories, allowing rapid diagnosis and treatment of infected dogs. This work also_x000D_
has implications for protecting public health as some tapeworms in dogs in Canada (Echinococcus spp.) can_x000D_
cause serious health problems in people. Consequently, we will specifically compare the performance of the_x000D_
Aquila product with the proposed new European gold standard DNA-based test for Echinococcus_x000D_
multilocularis. Our joint research will serve to improve and optimize the Aquila AccutasVET product, lead to_x000D_
expanded applications and regulatory claims for this product, and lay the groundwork for development of new_x000D_
commercial products. Finally, this research project will generate new knowledge on the distribution and impact_x000D_
of parasites transmissible to people and dogs in Canada., agreement title english : Improved veterinary diagnostics for tapeworms, agreement title french : Improved veterinary diagnostics for tapeworms, agreement number : EGP, agreement value : 25000.0, agreement start date : 2017-08-23, agreement end date : nan, description english : nan, description french : nan, expected results english : nan, expected results french : nan, additional information english : Grant or Award spanning more than one fiscal year (2017-2018 to 2018-2019)., additional information french : Subvention ou bourse octroyée s'appliquant à plus d'un exercice financier (2017-2018 à 2018-2019)., owner organization : nserc-crsng, owner organization title : Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada | Conseil de recherches en sciences naturelles et en génie du Canada