title: Leishmaniases diagnosis: an update on the use of immunological and molecular tools.
abstract: Leishmaniases are caused by obligate intracellular protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania. They cause a spectrum of diseases, most notably visceral (VL), cutaneous (CL), and mucosal (ML) leishmaniasis, which affect millions of people around the world, each year. Despite scientific advances, leishmaniases cases are expanding, constituting an important public health problem. Immunological and molecular diagnostic tools have been increasingly applied for the early detection of these parasitic infections, since the existence of limitations in clinical and parasitological examinations may provide false results, thus interfering in epidemiological research and diseases control. Although there is a great diversity of available immunological assays, important common deficiencies persist, which explains the current exploration of the molecular biology in research fields, especially the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and its variants, such as real-time quantitative PCR. However, in the last years, significant results have also been reached inside of immunological context (especially by Flow Cytometry), for humans and dogs, demonstrated by research works of the New and Old worlds. In spite of their potential to clarify and minimize the present global situation of the diseases, the implementation of molecular or immunological innovative reference assays for VL and CL at health services is still a challenge due to several reasons, including lack of standardization among laboratories and structural concerns. In this article we bring classical and current information about technological advances for the immunological and molecular leishmaniases diagnosis, their features, and applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Aggeu Magalhães Research Center, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Av. Prof. Moraes Rego s / n, 50670-420 Recife, PE Brazil.
authors.forename: Milena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Paiva-Cavalcanti
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Aggeu Magalhães Research Center, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Av. Prof. Moraes Rego s / n, 50670-420 Recife, PE Brazil.
authors.forename: Rayana Carla Silva
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: de Morais
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Aggeu Magalhães Research Center, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Av. Prof. Moraes Rego s / n, 50670-420 Recife, PE Brazil.
authors.forename: Rômulo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pessoa-E-Silva
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Aggeu Magalhães Research Center, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Av. Prof. Moraes Rego s / n, 50670-420 Recife, PE Brazil.
authors.forename: Lays Adrianne Mendonça
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Trajano-Silva
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Aggeu Magalhães Research Center, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Av. Prof. Moraes Rego s / n, 50670-420 Recife, PE Brazil.
authors.forename: Suênia da Cunha
authors.initials: Sda C
authors.lastname: Gonçalves-de-Albuquerque
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Aggeu Magalhães Research Center, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Av. Prof. Moraes Rego s / n, 50670-420 Recife, PE Brazil.
authors.forename: Diego de Hollanda Cavalcanti
authors.initials: Dde H
authors.lastname: Tavares
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Aggeu Magalhães Research Center, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Av. Prof. Moraes Rego s / n, 50670-420 Recife, PE Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Carolina Accioly
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Brelaz-de-Castro
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Aggeu Magalhães Research Center, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Av. Prof. Moraes Rego s / n, 50670-420 Recife, PE Brazil ; Department of Natural and Exact Sciences, University of Pernambuco (UPE), St. Capitão Pedro Rodrigues, 105, 55920-000 São José, Garanhuns, PE Brazil.
authors.forename: Rafael de Freitas E
authors.initials: Rde F
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Aggeu Magalhães Research Center, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Av. Prof. Moraes Rego s / n, 50670-420 Recife, PE Brazil.
authors.forename: Valéria Rêgo Alves
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Pereira
keywords: Cutaneous leishmaniasis; Diagnosis; Immunological tools; Molecular tools; Visceral leishmaniasis