MEMORANDUM

TO: Ms. Alison Jaenicke

FROM: Jharmaine Aguila
DATE: January 27, 2015
SUBJECT: Rhetorical Analysis of Lyme Disease Multiplex Testing for Dogs
(https://ahdc.vet.cornell.edu/docs/lyme_disease_multiplex_testing_for_dogs.pdf)

The purpose of this memo is to analyze Lyme Disease Multiplex Testing for Dogs and evaluate its
effectiveness as a technical document. The document was produced by the Animal Health Diagnostic
Center by Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine in February 2014. The Animal Health
Diagnostic Center discusses about their new development in diagnosing Lyme disease in Canines called
the Canine Lyme Multiplex Assay. The document provides information on how the multiplex assay works
and its advantages over standard tests. The quality of the document as a form of technical communication
will be assessed using the six major characteristics in technical writing.
Addresses Particular Readers
The primary audience for the document is small animal and companion veterinarians. The document
discusses advancement in Lyme disease diagnosis that could help veterinarians detect the disease in dogs
earlier than the standard ELISA test and western blots. There are sections that describe the mechanism of
the Canine Lyme Multiplex Assay, the antigens used in the test, interpretation of the results, and treatment
and follow up. The topics included can help veterinarians gain a better understanding of why this new
diagnostic tool is more advanced than standard tests.
The scientific language used throughout the document suggests that the document is intended for people
with a technical background. However, the document first provides background information about Lyme
disease and Lyme diagnostics in dogs. Also, when outer proteins were discussed, the document provided
explanations for each one. The document may not only be limited to veterinarians but could include a
secondary audience such as a student studying biological sciences.
A tertiary audience could be lab technicians or veterinary technicians who are most likely the ones
performing the diagnostic tests. The document includes a section where information on a vaccinated dog
is needed.
Helps Readers Solve Problems
The document is presenting a new method of diagnosing Lyme disease in dogs and compares its
advantages over standard Lyme tests. In one section, the document discusses how the test works by
providing information on what antibodies are being detected and measured. Then it discusses how surface
proteins of B. burgdorferi (organism that causes Lyme disease) changes when in different environments.
The new Lyme Multiplex assay can detect all three expressions of surface antigens (OspA, OspF, OspC)
that enable the veterinarian to determine what stage the disease is in. The document provides information
on how to interpret these tests by providing explanations of the level of each Osp in the test results.

The document also includes a section on when to perform follow up tests after treatment based on the
stage of the disease. This is important because the veterinarian is able to evaluate the success of the
treatment plan.
Reflects Animal Health Diagnostic Center of Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicines
Culture and Goals
According to the Animal Health Diagnostic Centers website, their mission is to improve the health of
food and fiber producing animals, companion animals, sport and recreational animals, exotic animals and
wildlife by protecting and improving public health, promoting environmental stewardship, and foster
economic growth. The document supports their mission by providing information about the Canine
Mutiplex assay and how it is more effective than traditional diagnostic tests. From the test results they are
able to assess the progression of the disease in the infected dog and develop a suitable treatment plan and
prognosis.
Is Produced Collaboratively
The document does not provide a primary author but it can be implied that the document was produced by
various researchers at Cornell. The document provides eleven sources composed of mostly research or
journal articles from veterinarians and scientists. The authors of the journal articles are specialists in
various subjects such as microbiology, internal medicine, surgical, vaccines, and immunology. Each
source contributed to creating a technical document with the appropriate scientific language.
Uses Design to Increase Readability
The document is written in two columns which opens up more white space for easier reading. The title of
the article, Lyme Disease multiplex Testing for Dogs is in a larger font than the rest of the document to
highlight the main subject. Each page contains a page number and headings that include Animal Health
Diagnostic Center and the title and date of when the document was written. The sub headings are in bold
and some are written in question form with the answer in the following paragraph. The question/answer
format guides the reader the important points of the document.
The document also uses lists to break down what each outer surface protein means. Each Osp is
numbered and bolded and a brief explanation of each are provided. Bullets are also used when listing the
advantages of the Lyme multiplex assay. This increases readability by briefly stating what is important to
the reader.
Consists of Words or Graphics or Both
The document provides several graphic aids to help further explain the technical language used. It
provides a diagram of outer surface protein (Osp) specific antibodies binding to multiplex beads used in
the tests. This helps a reader visualize the components that are involved within the test. It also provides
diagrams of how outer surface protein of B. burgdorferi changes expression depending on its
environment. It includes color-coded outer surface proteins and pictures of a tick and a dog to illustrate
which Osp is expressed as the infection progresses. Each figure is labeled numerically with a brief
explanation underneath.
Summary
Overall, the document Lyme Disease Multiplex Testing for Dogs produced by Animal Health
Diagnostic Center by Cornell is effective an effective form of technical communication. It achieves its
purpose by informing its readers about new technology they have developed. Although the document is
written in a difficult language for a non-technical audience, it provides the appropriate language and

technical terms for its intended audience. It provides useful figures and graphs for the reader as well as an
organized document to increase readability.
The document could include the instructional procedure of the multiplex assay so that readers would
know how to perform the new diagnostic test. That could be another technical document that could be
produced to further understand the product.
Overall, the document successfully includes the six important features of technical writing.