Imported Visceral Leishmaniasis: Diagnostic Dilemmas and Comparative Analysis of Three Assays

Abstract

Our data show that IHA is the most sensitive test (100%), followed by IFA (86.6%) and the strip-test (80.0%). The strip-test was the most specific (100%) of the three assays, followed by IFA (93.0%) and IHA (86.0%). However, the strip-test failed to detect at least three confirmed cases of VL. We conclude that IHA is preferred over IFA and the strip-test for the screening of individuals with suspected cases of VL, especially in a country where VL is not endemic and where the number of cases is regular but limited. The details about some of the patients with VL are presented to highlight the diversity of clinical presentations and problems encountered in the diagnosis of VL in a country where VL is not endemic.

Comparison of microscopic examination, rK39, and PCR for visceral leishmaniasis diagnosis in Turkey

“…The use of the dipstick tests as confirmatory methods should be restricted to situations where the proportion of VL among clinically suspect patient is high (Iqbal et al 2002;Sciberras 2007). Some researches have found that sensitivity and specificity of rK39 dipstick test ranged from 92% to 100% (Veeken et al 2003;Sundar et al 1998) and from 59% to 97.9% (Veeken et al 2003;Fissore et al 2004), respectively.…”

Field Adaptable Tests for Kala-Azar

“…The strip-test was most specific (100%), followed by IFA (93.0%) and IHA (86.0%) [5]. Sensitivity of strip test was markedly less in Kuwait than in India (100%).…”

ELISA and western blotting for the detection of Hsp70 and Hsp83 antigens of Leishmania donovani

“…ELISA has shown high diagnostic accuracy in several studies (Iqbal et al 2002;Sinha and Sehgal 1994;Sreenivas et al 2002). In order to develop specific assays for the serodiagnosis of leishmaniasis, several promastigote and amastigote antigens, purified antigens such as FML, defined, synthetic peptides or recombinant antigens have been characterized and evaluated.…”