title: Epidemiology and diagnostics of visceral leishmaniasis in Serbia.
abstract: A retrospective epidemiological and diagnostic study of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) was carried out during the period 2001-2007 and included patients suspected of VL who had been diagnosed at the Parasitological Laboratory at the Institute for Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Belgrade. Diagnosis of VL was confirmed by microscopic examination of Giemsa-stained bone marrow (BM) smears. BM smears from 134 patients were examined; 22 cases of VL were diagnosed, the majority of which involved individuals who had been on holiday at the Montenegrian sea coast. The sensitivity of the initial BM smears was inadequate; this required the application of a serological test, adapted for routine use, for the diagnosis of VL.
authors.affiliation: Parasitological Laboratory, Bulevar Oslobodjenja, Belgrade, Serbia. zorda_dakic@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Z D
authors.initials: ZD
authors.lastname: Dakic
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Pelemis
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Stevanovic
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Poluga
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Lavadinovic
authors.forename: I S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Milosevic
authors.forename: N K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Indjic
authors.forename: I V
authors.initials: IV
authors.lastname: Ofori-Belic
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Pavlovic
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000469:parasitology*; D005260:Female; D006386:Hemagglutination Tests / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay / Q000379:methods*; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D011934:Reagent Strips; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D055771:Serbia / Q000453:epidemiology; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D011934:Reagent Strips; C079253:K39 antigen, Leishmania