Serological monitoring of paediatric visceral leishmaniasis By IFA and ELISA methods.
OBJECTIVE
Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is endemic in all Mediterranean countries including Turkey, and children are at greater risk than adults in endemic areas. In VL patients, serological assays are considered to be sensitive for the diagnosis and/or follow up. The aim of this study was to assess the usefulness of serology for following up of childhood VL in Turkey.


METHODS
Sera obtained from twenty parasitologically confirmed children with VL were tested using IFAT and ELISA. The patients were monitored clinically and serologically (range: 20-500 days) during and after treatment. All VL patients were treated with meglumine antimonate.


RESULTS
Anti-Leishmania antibodies in successfully treated VL patients showed a steep decline but, in three patients who had relapsed, an increase was detected. Significantly lower values were observed after treatment with both serological techniques. Mean ELISA optical density values before and after treatment were: 0.78 ± 0.36 (0.26-1.76) and 0.38 ± 0.24 (0.09-0.83) respectively, (p < 0.001) and mean IFAT values (log10 transformed titers) before and after treatment were: 3.02 ± 0.90 (1.81-4.51) and 2.16 ± 0.75 (1.20-3.90) respectively, (p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
ELISA and IFAT are valuable not only for diagnosis but also for monitoring of drug therapy in childhood visceral leishmaniasis as rapid and non-invasive techniques.
Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Trakya University, Edirne, Turkey.
Nermin
N
Şakru
Seray Özensoy
SÖ
Töz
Metin
M
Korkmaz
Yusuf
Y
Özbel
D000293:Adolescent; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D000965:Antimony / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000469:parasitology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007893:Leishmania donovani / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008536:Meglumine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077485:Meglumine Antimoniate; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014421:Turkey
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D008536:Meglumine; D000077485:Meglumine Antimoniate; D000965:Antimony