Visceral leishmaniasis in Somalia: prevalence of leishmanin-positive and seropositive inhabitants in an endemic area.
In an endemic area of Somalia both humoral and cell mediated immunity against Leishmania donovani was demonstrated in 246 inhabitants. In a study of 14 patients with active visceral leishmaniasis, we found that antibodies appear early in infection and that they are then demonstrable for a limited period only. Leishmanin positivity develops later and persists longer, but does not seem to be lifelong. The majority of the immunoreactive individuals were either sero- or leishmanin positive. This finding is in accord with the result obtained in recent experimental studies indicating a regulatory effect exerted on humoral and cell mediated immunity by different T lymphocyte subsets.
Shiddo
S A
SA
Department of Morphology and Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Somali National University, Mogadishu.
Akuffo
H O
HO
Mohamed
A A
AA
Huldt
G
G
Nilsson
L A
LA
Ouchterlony
O
O
Thorstensson
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007893:Leishmania donovani; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012998:Somalia / Q000453:epidemiology
D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; C032127:leishmanin