Helps you easily test dogs annually for three vector-borne diseases at once: heartworm, ehrlichiosis and Lyme disease

SNAP® 3Dx® | Lyme Disease |  Ehrlichiosis |  Heartworm Disease

SNAP® 3Dx® Questions:

1. What does a SNAP® 3Dx® positive test result indicate?
2. The conjugate to my SNAP 3Dx Test was placed in the freezer overnight by mistake. Is it still alright to use?
3. How do the kit components need to be stored?
4. Is whole blood acceptable for the SNAP 3Dx Test?
5. I used the incorrect conjugate/sample ratio. Can I rely on the results I received?
6. What should I do if I misplaced the package insert to the SNAP 3Dx Test?
7. What is the read time and is it really important?
8. Do any vaccines interfere with this test?
9. Is the SNAP 3Dx Test an antibody or antigen test?

Lyme Disease Questions:

1. What is Lyme disease?
2. What causes Lyme disease?
3. How common is Lyme disease in the United States?
4. Where is Lyme disease found?
5. How is Lyme disease transmitted?
6. Are all dogs at risk for Lyme disease?
7. Are there seasons when dogs are at greater risk of becoming infected?
8. What are the signs of canine Lyme disease?
9. How is Lyme disease diagnosed in dogs?
10. Why should all dogs be tested?
11. If a dog has been vaccinated against Lyme disease, should it be tested?
12. Can a dog diagnosed with Lyme disease be treated?
13. Can I get Lyme disease from a dog?
14. Can Lyme disease be prevented?
15. Is the Lyme portion of the SNAP 3Dx Test identifying exposure or infection?

Ehrlichiosis Questions:

1. What is ehrlichiosis?
2. How common is ehrlichiosis in the United States?
3. Where is Ehrlichia found?
4. How is ehrlichiosis transmitted?
5. Are there seasons when dogs are at greater risk of becoming infected with ehrlichiosis?
6. What are the signs of ehrlichiosis?
7. How is ehrlichiosis diagnosed in dogs?
8. Why should all dogs be tested?
9. What do I do if a patient tests positive for ehrlichiosis on SNAP 3Dx Test?
10. Can dogs diagnosed with ehrlichiosis be treated?
11. Can I get ehrlichiosis from a dog?
12. Can ehrlichiosis be prevented?

Heartworm Questions:

1. What is heartworm disease?
2. How is heartworm disease transmitted?
3. How can I tell if a dog or cat has heartworm disease?
4. Can heartworm disease be prevented?
5. When should patients be retested?

SNAP® 3Dx® Answers:

1. What does a SNAP® 3Dx® positive test result indicate?
   
   To determine the test result, read the reaction spots in the result window. Any color development in the sample spots indicates the presence of heartworm antigen, or B. burgdorferi or E. canis antibody. If no color develops in the positive control spot, repeat the test.

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2. The conjugate to my SNAP 3Dx Test was placed in the freezer overnight by mistake. Is it still alright to use?
   
   The proper storage temperature for the SNAP 3Dx Tests and conjugate is 2°–7°C/36°–45°F until the printed expiration date, or at room temperature (15°–27°C/59°–80°F) for 90 days or until the printed expiration date, whichever occurs first. The conjugate is compromised by freezing; therefore, call our Customer Service Department at 1-800-248-2483 to see if replacement conjugate is available.

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3. How do the kit components need to be stored?
   
   The SNAP 3Dx Test can be stored in any of the following ways:

   • Room-temperature storage (15°–27°C/59°–80°F) for 90 days or until the printed expiration date, whichever occurs first.
   • SNAP devices and conjugate can be stored in the refrigerator (2°–7°C/36°–45°F) until the expiration date.
   • All components must be allowed to equilibrate to room temperature (15°–27°C/59°–80°F), out of the box for at least 30 minutes prior to use. Do not heat.

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4. Is whole blood acceptable for the SNAP 3Dx Test?
   
   Whole blood can be used, but it must be anticoagulated (using EDTA or heparin). Serum and plasma are also acceptable sample types.

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5. I used the incorrect conjugate/sample ratio. Can I rely on the results I received?
   
   We recommend rerunning the test with the exact ratio of conjugate/sample listed in the package insert—four drops of conjugate and three drops of sample.

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6. What should I do if I misplaced the package insert ot the SNAP 3Dx Test?
   
   Contact our Customer Support Department at 1-800-248-2483, and follow the menu prompts for technical support questions on your diagnostic kits. You can also view the complete SNAP 3Dx Test package insert here. (722 KB)

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7. What is the read time and is it really important?
   
   The test result must be read eight minutes after the device is snapped. The test does not contain stop solution, and after eight minutes, color development may occur that is not related to the sample. Results read after eight minutes should not be reported.

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8. Do any vaccines interfere with this test?
   
   According to the studies that have been performed, there are no known Lyme vaccines that interfere with this test.¹ The Lyme portion of the SNAP 3Dx Test identifies the presence of a C₆ antibody that is elevated only with active infection. Ehrlichia and heartworm do not have any known vaccination interferences. The SNAP 3Dx Test uses a synthetic peptide that specifically identifies Ehrlichia canis. The heartworm portion of the test detects specific antigens from adult female heartworms.

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9. Is the SNAP 3Dx Test an antibody or antigen test?
   
   The heartworm portion is an antigen test, and the Ehrlichia canis and Lyme portions are antibody tests.

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Reference:

1. National Institute of Health. NIAID Collaboration Yields New Test for Lyme Disease. Available at: www.niaid.nih.gov. Accessed April 6, 2006.

Lyme Disease Answers:
If your question isn't answered below, learn more about Lyme disease at www.lyme.org.

1. What is Lyme disease?
   
   One of the most common tick-transmitted diseases in the United States and worldwide, Lyme disease, or borreliosis, is a multifaceted infectious disease syndrome that can cause serious problems for dogs. Although it is most frequently reported in people and dogs, Lyme disease has also been seen in cats, horses and cattle.

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2. What causes Lyme disease?
   
   Lyme disease is caused by the corkscrew-shaped bacterium, or spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi. The bacterium lives in the gut of the black-legged, or deer tick (Ixodes scapularis) and the Western black-legged tick (Ixodes pacificus), and can be transmitted when an infected tick feeds on a dog, person or other mammal. Black-legged ticks are extremely small, ranging from the size of a grain of sand to the size of a sesame seed.

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3. How common is Lyme disease in the United States?
   
   According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), "Lyme disease was first recognized in the United States in 1975, after an unusual outbreak of arthritis near Lyme, Connecticut. Since then, reports of Lyme disease have increased dramatically, and the disease has become an important public health problem in some areas of the United States."¹

3. Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Reported Cases of Lyme Disease by Year, United States, 1991–2005. Available at: www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/lyme/ld_UpClimbLymeDis.htm. Accessed February 7, 2007.

   The CDC has also stated, "In 2005, 23,305 cases of Lyme disease were reported yielding a national average of 7.9 cases for every 100,000 persons. In the ten states where Lyme disease is most common, the average was 31.6 cases for every 100,000 persons."²

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4. Where is Lyme disease found?
   
   Please view the most recent prevalence map.

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5. How is Lyme disease transmitted?
   
   The CDC brochure, Lyme Disease: A Public Information Guide, states: "The Lyme disease bacterium, Borrelia burgdorferi, is spread through the bite of infected ticks. The black-legged tick (or deer tick, Ixodes scapularis) spreads the disease in the northeastern and north-central United States, and the western black-legged tick (Ixodes pacificus) spreads the disease on the Pacific coast. These ticks are usually found in wooded areas and have complex life cycles. In some regions, black-legged ticks can spread other diseases in addition to Lyme disease, including babesiosis and anaplasmosis."

   In general, ticks need to be attached for 36 to 48 hours before they can transmit the Lyme disease bacterium.¹

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6. Are all dogs at risk for Lyme disease?
   
   Possibly. Where and how your clients live may mean exposure to ticks is more likely—especially if they garden, hike, camp, hunt, work outdoors or spend time in wooded, brushy or overgrown areas and their dogs accompany them. Black-legged or deer ticks prefer to hide in shady, moist ground litter. But they can be found above ground, clinging to tall grass, brush, shrubs and low tree branches. They also inhabit gardens and lawns, particularly at the edges of woodlands and around old stone walls, where deer and white-footed mice, the ticks' preferred hosts, thrive.

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7. Are there seasons when dogs are at greater risk of becoming infected?
   
   In most areas of the country, people and their pets are at a moderate to high risk of exposure from April to November. Ticks are most active during these months and people and their pets are spending more time enjoying outdoor activities, but disease onset can occur at any time of the year. Lyme disease transmission is a high concern in both spring and fall. In spring, deer ticks must feed to progress from larvae to nymphs—and then again—to mature into adult ticks.

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8. What are the signs of canine Lyme disease?
   
   While a variety of signs may appear, the most common signs of Lyme disease are hidden. Other common signs are recurrent arthritis and lameness that last for only three to four days, sometimes with appetite loss and depression. Dog owners should be aware of these warning signs:

   • Sudden occurrence of lameness
   • Reluctance to move or a stiff, painful gait
   • Warm, swollen joints
   • Pain in the legs or throughout the body
   • Fever
   • Fatigue
   • Loss of appetite
   • Swollen lymph nodes

   Dogs can also develop fatal kidney disease, although rare. Signs of Lyme disease may come and go, vary in intensity from mild to severe, and can mimic many other conditions.

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9. How is Lyme disease diagnosed in dogs?
   
   Lyme disease is diagnosed by testing for B. burgdorferi antibodies, noting the presence of clinical signs, ruling out other causes of these signs and observing a response to antibiotic therapy. Veterinarians can perform a simple blood test that screens dogs simultaneously for heartworm disease, Lyme disease and ehrlichiosis, another tick-transmitted disease. Experts agree that annual testing in endemic regions provides the best first line of defense against Lyme disease.

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10. Why should all dogs be tested?
    
    Lyme disease is challenging to diagnose. The signs can be very subtle and can be easily mistaken for other medical problems, But with the SNAP 3Dx Test, veterinarians can tell whether a dog has been infected with Lyme disease. Then the veterinarian and pet owner can discuss treatment options.

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11. If a dog has been vaccinated against Lyme disease, should it be tested?
    
    Unfortunately, vaccines aren't 100% effective. If a dog were infected prior to vaccination, the vaccine would not stop disease from occurring. Having a dog tested adds the benefit of knowing whether or not it has been infected. The SNAP 3Dx Test is the only test that can definitively distinguish between vaccinated and infected dogs.

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12. Can a dog diagnosed with Lyme disease be treated?
    
    Several broad-spectrum antibiotics can effectively treat Lyme disease, especially in its early stages. In early stages, response to antibiotics is usually seen within three to five days and is often dramatic. Patients should be monitored for clinical response to treatment according to the SNAP 3Dx Test Lyme disease.

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13. Can I get Lyme disease from a dog?
    
    No, Lyme disease is not spread by person-to-person contact or by contact with infected animals. Although the disease is not transmitted directly from dogs to humans, infected dogs serve as sentinels to indicate the presence of infected ticks in the area, indicating that you or the pet owner may also be at risk.

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14. Can Lyme disease be prevented?
    
    Lyme disease may be prevented through vaccination and tick control. Since ticks carry other devastating diseases, such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever, anaplasmosis and ehrlichiosis, it's important to keep dogs tick-free.

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15. Is the Lyme portion of the SNAP 3Dx Test identifying exposure or infection?
    
    The SNAP 3Dx test identifies infection. The test’s C₆ peptide is highly specific for Borrelia burgdorferi and is only present in the face of active infection. In addition, antibodies from currently available Lyme vaccines have been shown not to cross-react with SNAP Lyme antibody detection, so you can identify infection in vaccinated dogs.³

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References:

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Lyme disease: A public information guide. Available at: www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/lyme/ld_resources.htm. Accessed December 8, 2006.
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Reported Cases of Lyme Disease by Year, United States, 1991–2005. Available at: www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/lyme/ld_UpClimbLymeDis.htm. Accessed December 8, 2006.
3. Liang FT, Steere AC, Marques AR, Johnson BJB, Miller JN, Phillipp MT. Sensitive and specific serogiagnosis of Lyme disease by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with peptide based on an immunodominant conserved region of Borrelia burgdorferi VIsE. J Clin Microbiol. 1999;37(12):3990–96.

Ehrlichiosis Answers:

1. What is ehrlichiosis?
   
   It is a potentially life-threatening disease that dogs can get from several common dog ticks.

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2. How common is ehrlichiosis in the United States?
   
   It is the second most common canine infectious disease in the United States (after parvovirus).

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3. Where is Ehrlichia found?
   
   Please view the most recent prevalence map.

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4. How is ehrlichiosis transmitted?
   
   Ehrlichiosis is spread through the bite of infected ticks. The Brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus) carries the bacteria and bites the dog, spreading infection. All three stages—nymph, larvae, and adult—can transmit E. canis (the cause of ehrlichiosis). This is the only tick that can survive indoors.

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5. Are there seasons when dogs are at a greater risk of becoming infected?
   
   In most areas of the country, people and their pets are at a moderate to high risk of exposure from April to November. Ticks are most active during these months and people and their pets are spending more time enjoying outdoor activities, but disease onset can occur at any time of the year. Ehrlichiosis transmission is a high concern in both spring and fall. In spring, dog ticks must feed to progress from larvae to nymphs—and then again—to mature into adult ticks.

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6. What are the signs of ehrlichiosis?
   
   While a variety of signs may appear, the most common signs of ehrlichia infection are hidden. Other common signs, which can range from mild to severe, include loss of appetite, depression, fever and painful joints. If left untreated, the disease can progress to a point at which it causes permanent blindness, autoimmune diseases, bleeding complications and even death. If caught early, the prognosis is usually very good for a full recovery from symptoms.

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7. How is ehrlichiosis diagnosed in dogs?
   
   Veterinarians can perform a simple blood test to determine if a dog has been infected with E. canis. The SNAP 3Dx Test screens dogs simultaneously for E. canis, Lyme disease and heartworm disease in just eight minutes.

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8. Why should dogs be tested?
   
   Ehrlichiosis is challenging to diagnose. The signs may be very subtle and can be easily mistaken for other medical problems. But with the SNAP 3Dx Test, veterinarians can tell whether a dog has been infected or exposed to E. canis and then provide treatment options.

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9. What do I do if a patient tests positive for E. canis antibody on a SNAP 3Dx Test?
   
   A positive SNAP 3Dx result should be followed by a CBC to check thrombocyte levels. If thrombocytopenia is evident, treatment may be prescribed (see below). Patients should be retested within 3–6 months using the SNAP 3Dx Test and CBC protocol.

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10. Can dogs diagnosed with ehrlichiosis be treated?
    
    Several broad-spectrum antibiotics can effectively treat ehrlichiosis, especially in its early stages. Response to antibiotics is usually seen within two to three days, with the most striking changes being in behavior and attitude. Dogs experiencing severe anemia or bleeding problems may require a blood transfusion initially, however, this does nothing to treat the underlying disease. Unfortunately, the chronic form of the disease can be fatal.

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11. Can I get ehrlichiosis from a dog?
    
    No, ehrlichiosis is not spread by person-to-person contact or by contact with infected animals. Although the disease is not transmitted directly from dogs to humans, infected dogs serve as sentinels to indicate the presence of infected ticks in the area, indicating that you or the pet owner may also be at risk.

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12. Can ehrlichiosis be prevented?
    
    The best prevention of ehrlichiosis is to keep dogs free of ticks. This should include checking the skin daily for ticks and treating dogs with tick control. Since ticks carry other devastating diseases, such as Lyme disease, anaplasmosis and Rocky Mountain spotted fever, it's important to keep dogs tick-free.

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Reference:

1. Hoskins JD. Seroprevalence of Ehrlichia in dogs. Veterinary Forum. October 2000.

Heartworm Answers:
The following answers include American Heartworm Society information used with permission.

1. What is heartworm disease?
   
   Heartworm disease (also called dirofilariasis) is a preventable, but serious and potentially fatal, parasitic disease that primarily affects dogs and cats. The heart and lungs are the major organs affected by heartworms in dogs. Adult heartworms (Dirofilaria immitis) which can be up to 14 inches long, live in the right side of the heart and the pulmonary arteries, which connect the heart to the lungs. Blockage and injury caused by heartworms may lead to heart failure and may damage other organs, such as the liver and kidneys. A dog may harbor several hundred heartworms, but in most cases the number is much lower. Cats usually have smaller and fewer heartworms than dogs, and often do not exhibit clinical signs until the disease is considerably advanced. Occasionally, heartworms are found in other animals such as foxes, wolves and ferrets. Heartworms can also lodge in the lungs of people and form nodules, but their presence has not been associated with clinical disease.

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2. How is heartworm disease transmitted?
   
   Heartworms are transmitted by mosquitoes. Adult female heartworms release microfilariae into the bloodstream of infected animals. When a mosquito bites an infected animal, it takes up blood containing these microfilariae. The microfilariae incubate in the mosquito for 10 to 14 days, during which time they become infective larvae. When the mosquito bites another animal, the infective larvae are passed on to the second animal through the wound. Infective larvae migrate through the tissues of the body for two to three months, and then enter the heart and pulmonary arteries, where they reach adult size in another three months. If both sexes are present, the mature worms will mate and produce new microfilariae, and the cycle begins again. Adult heartworms may survive for five to seven years in dogs. The mosquito is the only natural agent of transmission for heartworms. Microfilariae cannot mature into adult heartworms without passing through a mosquito.

   Cats rarely develop microfilaremia. When present, microfilariae are usually short-lived. Some cats rid themselves of heartworm infections spontaneously, whereas infective larvae in other cats may mature into adult heartworms that can cause serious disease.

   According to the American Heartworm Society, "Canine heartworm infection is widely distributed throughout the United States. Heartworm infection has been found in dogs native to all 50 states. All dogs, regardless of their age, sex or habitat, are susceptible to heartworm infection. The highest infection rates (up to 45%) in dogs (not maintained on heartworm preventative) are observed within 150 miles of the Atlantic and Gulf coasts from the Gulf of Mexico to New Jersey, and along the Mississippi River and its major tributaries. Other areas of the United States may have lower incidence rates (5% or less) of canine heartworm disease, while some regions have environmental, mosquito and dog population factors that allow a higher incidence of heartworm infection. Regions where heartworm disease is common have infections diagnosed in dogs as young as one year of age, with most areas diagnosing infections primarily between the ages of three and eight years. Although there are differences in frequency of infection for various groups of dogs, all dogs in such regions should be considered at risk, placed on prevention programs and frequently examined by a veterinarian."

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3. How can I tell if a dog or cat has heartworm disease?
   
   Pets recently or lightly infected with heartworms may show no signs of disease. In later stages, dogs with heavy or persistent infection may cough, become lethargic, lose their appetites or have difficulty breathing. Owners may first notice that their dogs seem to tire rapidly after only moderate exercise. Fluid may accumulate in the abdomen (ascites) as a result of advanced heartworm infection. Another serious, but less common, manifestation is caval syndrome (a form of liver failure). Animals affected by caval syndrome rapidly become weak and their urine turns dark brown. Caval syndrome requires prompt surgical removal of the heartworms.

   Veterinarians can detect heartworm infection in its early stages by examining a dog's blood for the presence of circulating microfilariae or by performing laboratory tests to look for heartworm antigen (a protein produced by adult heartworms). Radiography of the chest and electro- or echocardiography are also helpful in making a diagnosis, and may give some indication of the severity of the infection.

   Clinical signs in cats are similar. However, most cats never show signs of disease and heartworm infection may be a postmortem diagnosis. While the diagnostic approach to heartworm disease in cats is similar to that used for dogs, diagnosis is much more difficult because cats usually harbor very few adult worms.

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4. Can heartworm disease be prevented?
   
   Heartworm disease is almost 100% preventable by administration of oral (daily or monthly), topical (monthly) or injectable (biannually) medications.

   Prior to beginning a prevention program, a blood test is recommended to detect or rule out the presence of heartworms. Then prescribe an appropriate preventative and advice as to how often and how long that preventative should be administered. You can determine the patient's risk for heartworm disease on the basis of its species, lifestyle and geographic location.

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5. When should patients be retested?
   
   The American Heartworm Society’s 2005 treatment guidelines encourage annual testing, testing in between prevention product changes, and year-round prevention to manage heartworm disease in dogs and cats. “Annual retesting is an integral part of ensuring that (prevention) is achieved and maintained.”¹

Reference:

1. http://www.heartwormsociety.org/AHS%20Guidelines-Canine2005.htm#RETESTING. Accessed: May 1, 2006.

The SNAP® 3Dx® Test is available in the U.S., Canada, Europe and Latin America. Call your local IDEXX distributor for availability.

View the complete SNAP 3Dx Test package insert. (722 KB)

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