In leptospirosis antibodies can be demonstrated in the serum by mat.
Mat titers leptospirosis.
Laboratory studies can confirm the diagnosis and determine the extent of organ involvement.
As with other serology assays vaccination complicates the interpretation of titers.
A severe form which includes jaundice kidney failure and bleeding is called weil disease.
In equine abortion cases a mat titer of 1 6400 or higher is considered.
A series of cultures of different leptospires are incubated with serial dilutions of serum.
If the level of antibodies called a titer is high enough or can be shown to be rising over time then infection is confirmed.
Results are expressed as the reciprocal of the highest dilution where agglutination is observed.
The mat is an excellent test but it.
For the reading of mat titers it is highly recommended to use a darkfield microscope with a high contrast between the leptospires and the dark background.
Titers of greater than 100 are usually considered significant although these may be due to vaccination.
What is the mat test for leptospirosis.
Detection of antibodies using the microscopic agglutination test mat has been the most common diagnostic method used for the diagnosis of canine leptospirosis 10 vaccination with commercially available leptospirosis vaccines will produce detectable mat titers 10 see algorithm 2 for more information on mat results.
An interpretation is included in each mat report at no extra charge and additional consultation is also available.
The mat or microscopic agglutination test detects the presence of antibodies against leptospira in a dog s blood.
Does the mat always work.
In the endemic regions there may be a substantial proportion of the population with elevated titres of mat.
The mat is the keystone for a correct diagnosis wolff 1954.
For all 108 patients leptospirosis was diagnosed on the basis of a fourfold or greater increase in titer by mat seroconversion and all but 1 of 245 controls were mat negative titers 1 100.
Sera are screened at a 1 100 dilution and those showing agglutination are then serially diluted further to determine a titer endpoint.
Major disadvantages of microscopic agglutination test mat.
For all species of animals when chronic leptospirosis is suspected abortion anterior uveitis hepatitis and nephritis etc it is not necessary to collect a convalescent serum sample.
Human leptospirosis is an acute febrile illness that presents with many manifestations and is found worldwide.
Horses that abort due to leptospirosis exposure tend to have very high mat titers.
Testing may include culture and or serology.
