Long shelf life of 24 monts at room temperature (2°C - 30°C)
Presentation
Box of 6 or 20 tests
Features
Why using Speed Diro ?
Heartworm disease is caused by the development of adult Dirofilaria immitis filariae in the heart cavities of dogs and cats.
A mosquito vector (Culicidae) sucks the free larval forms (microfilaria) from the bloodstream of an infected animal, and transmitt it to another one. The disease thus follows the distribution of this mosquito.
In endemic zones, the prevalence of infected animals can reach up to 60% of the population. In Europe, the distribution of cases follows the Mediterranean rim (2).
Clinical signs, often unspecific and inconsistent, may take 5 to 7 months to appear after infection. They include coughing, exercise intolerance and progressive heart failure, and generally lead to the death of the animal.
Early diagnosis is therefore essential for rapid treatment implementation.
Speed Diro's antigen test not only detects clinical dirofilariasis, but also occult dirofilariasis in which microfilariae are absent (30% of cases) (3).
When to use Speed Diro ?
As heartworm disease is becoming increasingly widespread, it is important to carry out annual screening in endemic areas, as recommended by the European Society for Dirofilariosis and Angiostrongylosis (ESDA)1 and the American Heartworm Society (AHS)2.
Speed Diro is particularly recommended:
In endemic areas as an annual screening tool* for at-risk animals as young as 7 months of age
To confirm a suspicion in a dog with a corresponding clinical picture
To monitor the efficacy of an adulticide treatment
Before implementing or after changing preventative molecules.
To monitor the evolution of the antigenic status of animals whose tests give a result that is not consistent with the clinical picture.
* Speed Diro is an antigenic test. It should be systematically combined with a microfilaria detection test.
Quick guide
For complete instruction, please refer to the product notice.
1. Add 1 drop of sample into the sample well.
2. Add slowly 5 drops of reagent into the sample well.
3. Read the result at 15 minutes.
Speed Diro performances
Reference method
Commercial ELISA
Sensitivity vs ref
95.2%
Specificity vs ref
99.%(3)
References
(1) European Society of Dirofilariosis and Angiostrongylosis, Guidelines for clinical management of canine heartworm disease, 2017
(2) American Heartworm Society Canine Guidelines for the Prevention, Diagnosis, and Management of Heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) Infection in Dogs, revised in April 2024
(3) VENCO L., Evaluation comparative à la technique de Knott et à l’Elisa de Laboratoire en Italie, unpublished, 2002
(4) TROTZ-WILLIAMS L.A., TREES A.J.. Systematic review of the distribution of the major vector-borne parasitic infections in dogs and cats in Europe. Vet Record, 2003, 152, 97-105
Websites
AMERICAN HEARTWORM SOCIETY
The American Heartworm Society brings together a number of veterinary specialists from across North America, with a focus on the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of canine heartworm disease.
EUROPEAN SOCIETY FOR DIROFILARIOSIS AND AGIOSTRONGYLOSIS
ESDA aims to be a European resource for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of Dirofilaria immitis and Dirofilaria repens and Angiostrongylus vasorum in companion animals.
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