title: Detection of Leishmania kDNA in human serum samples for the diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis.
abstract: The performance of PCR to detect Leishmania kDNA in serum for the diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) was assessed in serum samples from 65 patients with VL, 17 non-infected individuals and 17 patients with other febrile hepatosplenic diseases. Serum PCR showed a sensitivity of 85%, specificity of 100% and efficiency of 90%. The sensitivity values obtained for blood PCR (97%) and rK39 ELISA (95%) were significantly higher (P=0.01) than the values observed for L. chagasi ELISA (88%) and serum PCR (85%), whilst no difference was observed among the specificity rates obtained with rK39 ELISA (94%; P=0.47) and L. chagasi ELISA (85%; P=0.06). This work suggests that the use of serum samples may be an alternative for the diagnosis of VL when peripheral blood samples are not available or require significant operational efforts.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Clinical Research, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Av. Augusto de Lima 1715, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais 30190-002, Brazil.
authors.forename: Tália Santana Machado
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: de Assis
authors.forename: Rachel Basques
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Caligiorne
authors.forename: Gustavo Adolfo Sierra
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Romero
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rabello
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018105:DNA, Kinetoplast / Q000097:blood*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007891:Leishmania / Q000276:immunology*; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008536:Meglumine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000077485:Meglumine Antimoniate; D008875:Middle Aged; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D018105:DNA, Kinetoplast; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D008536:Meglumine; D000077485:Meglumine Antimoniate