title: Levels of mannose-binding lectin in individuals with visceral leishmaniasis in the northeast region of Brazil.
abstract: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is one of the seven priority endemic diseases in the world. The clinical outcome of many infections is not only dependent on the pathogenic organism, but also on the genetic variability of the host susceptibility to infection. Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) is a protein that plays an important role in the innate immune system. The aim of this study was to compare the serum levels of MBL between healthy controls and carriers of VL. The VL cases were recruited randomly from the main hospitals and referral outpatient clinics for VL in São Luís, and from home visits. Determination of MBL protein levels was performed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Of the 161 patients with VL and the 161 healthy controls, 60.9 and 67.1% had high levels of MBL, respectively. There was no significant difference in MBL levels between cases and controls. Low socioeconomic status and living conditions are conducive to the occurrence of VL. Owing to the small number of existing studies, it is extremely important to conduct further studies on MBL levels and susceptibility to VL, especially in regions where the disease is endemic, such as Maranhão, Brazil.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Enfermagem, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, São Luís, MA, Brasil.
authors.forename: E L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Genética Humana, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Campos Júnior
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Parasitária, Universidade Ceuma, São Luís, MA, Brasil.
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Monteiro
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Patologia, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, São Luís, MA, Brasil.
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.affiliation: Grupo de Estudos e Pesquisas em Administração e Gerência do Cuidado em Enfermagem e Saúde, Departamento de Enfermagem, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brasil.
authors.forename: A L P
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Magalhães
authors.affiliation: Centro de Pesquisa Clínica, Hospital Universitário da Universidade Federal do Maranhão, São Luís, MA, Brasil.
authors.forename: M D C
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Enfermagem, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, São Luís, MA, Brasil.
authors.forename: A J M
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Caldas
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Genética Humana, Departamento de Genética, Universidade Estadual do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
authors.forename: M M G
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Pimentel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D037601:Mannose-Binding Lectin / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D037601:Mannose-Binding Lectin