qPCR vs. RHAM: New Research Validates a Faster, More Cost-Effective Diagnostic for Tick-Borne Diseases in Pets

Researchers from Mahanakorn University of Technology have released a groundbreaking study on tick-borne diseases, providing crucial warnings for pet owners and veterinarians ahead of the upcoming rainy season (June to August)—a period associated with a high prevalence of brown dog ticks in Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Peninsular Malaysia, Myanmar, Vietnam, and other Southeast Asian countries.

Using gold-standard qPCR diagnostics, the study examined 134 dogs, revealing alarming infection rates: Ehrlichia spp. (26.12%), Babesia spp. (4.48%), Hepatozoon canis (6.72%), Anaplasma spp. (0.75%), Dirofilaria immitis (3.73%), and Brugia spp. (3.73%). The researchers highlighted the limitations of conventional diagnostic methods: microscopy suffers from low sensitivity (especially in low-parasitemia cases) and examiner dependency, while serological tests cannot distinguish between active and past infections. Although qPCR-based diagnostics offer high accuracy, their cost and technical demands hinder widespread use in veterinary practice. A promising alternative is RNase Hybridization-Assisted Amplification (RHAM) technology—a rapid, field-deployable nucleic acid detection platform that could address these challenges.

The study compared microscopy, qPCR, and PlusLife’s RHAM in Ehrlichia detection, finding that:

• Microscopy had only 51.47% sensitivity, 87.88% specificity, 69.40% accuracy, and 81.39% precision versus qPCR.
• RHAM, however, achieved 91.18% sensitivity, 98.48% specificity, 94.78% accuracy, and 98.41% precision, rivaling qPCR.

RHAM combines loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) with RNase HII-mediated probe cleavage, delivering fluorescence-based results in 30 minutes while requiring only 50 μL of blood (less than qPCR). The technology also includes an internal control to minimize false negatives/positives.

This study marks the first field validation of the Pluslife RHAM Ehrlichiosis Test Kit (commercially launched mid-2024), proving its reliability for decentralized or resource-limited veterinary settings. With tick-borne diseases surging in the rainy season, RHAM emerges as a fast, accurate, and practical diagnostic breakthrough for Southeast Asia.

Original study: https://www.veterinaryworld.org/Vol.18/May-2025/13.php