title: Quantitative grading of Leishmania donovani amastigotes related to age of kala-azar patients.
abstract: Out of 370 Leishman Donovan bodies positive bone-marrow smears, maximum belonged to grade 1 + (42.4 per cent) and the least to grade 5 + (1.6 per cent). Persons belonging to 0-20 years age group were found in be statistically more susceptible to Leishmania infection as compared to persons above 20 years of age (P less than .01). The disease was least common in persons above 40 years (3.5 per cent) of age. Parasite load was found to be highest in 0-20 years group irrespective of grades of leishmania infection. Grade 5 + infection was found to be rare (1.6 per cent) and confined to 0-20 years age group. Males suffered from the disease predominantly (69.2 per cent) as compared to females (30.8 per cent).
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Saran
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Sen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000469:parasitology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007893:Leishmania donovani / Q000502:physiology*; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000469:parasitology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged