title: Comparative evaluation of direct agglutination test, rK39 and soluble antigen ELISA and IFAT for the diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis.
abstract: Five serological tests for the diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) were compared: a direct agglutination test (DAT) based on freeze-dried antigen (DAT-fd); a locally produced DAT (DAT-LPC); an IgG ELISA against rK39 (ELISA-rK39); an IgG ELISA for Leishmania chagasi (ELISA-L. chagasi); and an IgG IFAT against L. chagasi. Serum samples from 88 patients with VL, 20 non-infected individuals and 85 patients with others infectious diseases were evaluated. The sensitivity rates were: DAT-fd, 96.6%; DAT-LPC, 95.5%; ELISA-rK39, 88.6%; ELISA-L. chagasi, 89.8%; and IFAT, 92.0% (P>0.05). The specificity for the control groups varied from 53.3% to 100%. DAT-fd had the highest efficiency (97.4%), followed by DAT-LPC (91.7%) and ELISA-rK39 (90.7%). Our data suggest that DAT-fd, DAT-LPC and ELISA-rK39 are useful tests for the diagnosis of VL and could replace IFAT as the routine diagnostic test in Brazil.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Clinical Research, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Avenue Augusto de Lima, 1715, 30190002 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mariana Junqueira
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Pedras
authors.forename: Luciana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: de Gouvêa Viana
authors.forename: Edward José
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rabello
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000372:Agglutination Tests / Q000379:methods; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000276:immunology*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007159:Immunologic Tests / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D007223:Infant; D007891:Leishmania / Q000276:immunology*; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan