title: Rapid detection of Leishmania amastigotes in fluid aspirates and biopsies of human tissues.
abstract: When using a genus-specific monoclonal antibody (83-J3D2) as the primary reagent in an indirect immunofluorescent antibody assay (IFA), intracellular amastigotes of Leishmania were easily identified in 9 of 9 biopsies and in 11 of 12 needle aspirates taken from human lesions. In contrast, only 5 of the biopsies and 4 of the aspirates yielded promastigotes upon culture in vitro. Similarly, all but 2 of the aspirates and one-half of the biopsies were reported as negative for parasites when stained with Wright's and hematoxylin-eosin, respectively. Serum antibody titers, ranging from 1:8 to 1:128, corroborated the results of the amastigote detection assays when histopathology and isolation were negative. These findings support the practicality of using the genus-specific monoclonal IFA in those field situations where it becomes necessary to differentiate leishmaniasis from other skin infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore 21201.
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Anthony
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grogl
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Sacci
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Ballou
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007891:Leishmania / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007896:Leishmaniasis / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal