Effect of storage on serum IFA titers for Sarcocystis neurona

Effect of refrigeration, room temperature, and processing time on serum immunofluorescent antibody titers for Sarcocystis neurona
J Vet Intern Med. 2025 Jan-Feb;39(1):e17282. doi: 10.1111/jvim.17282.
Authors
Claudia Valderrama-Martinez 1 , Andrea Packham 2 , Shichen Zheng 3 , Woutrina Smith 2 , Magdalena Plancarte 2 4 , Monica Aleman 3
Affiliations

1 Departamento de Salud Animal, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia.
2 One Health Institute, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, California, USA.
3 Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, California, USA.
4 Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California, USA.

PMID: 39715359
DOI: 10.1111/jvim.17282

Abstract

Background: Evaluating antibody titers for Sarcocystis neurona for the diagnosis of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis from serum samples is a common practice. However, ensuring timely and proper refrigeration is not always possible.

Objectives: To evaluate immunofluorescent antibody (IFA) titers for S. neurona from serum samples stored at room temperature and 4°C.

Samples: Twenty-two serum samples.

Methods: Prospective longitudinal study. Two serum aliquots of 1 mL each were stored at room temperature (20-23.3°C) and 4°C. The unrefrigerated aliquot was immediately tested for IFA titers. Both aliquots were retested on Days 5 and 10 after collection. A paired t test was used to compare IFA titers at different time points.

Results: There was no significant difference between IFA titers from baseline with those stored at room temperature at Days 5 (P = .741, 95% CI [-56.83, 78.65]), 10 (P = .677, 95% CI [-50.01, 75.46]), and between 5 and 10 days (P = 0.949, 95% CI [-57.50, 61.14]). There was no significant difference from baseline with those stored at 4°C for Days 5 (P = .964, 95% CI [-81.81, 85.45]), 10 (P = 0.573, 95% CI [-109.4, 62.15]), and between 5 and 10 days (P = .5, 95% CI [-102.6, 51.67]). There was no statistical difference between samples stored at room temperature and 4°C (P = .688, CI [-55.51, 37.33]) on Days 5 and 10 (P = .104, CI [-80.8, 8.07]).

Conclusions and clinical importance: Immunofluorescent antibody test titers for S. neurona are stable for up to 10 days at room temperature and 4°C.

Keywords: ambient temperature; antibodies; cold; protein; protozoa; stability.

© 2024 The Author(s). Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.