An indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) test for the serodiagnosis of Kala-Azar
Choudhry, A.; Puri, A.; Guru, P.Y.; Saxena, R.P.; Saxena, K.C.
Journal of Communicable Diseases 24(1): 32-36
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-5138 PMID: 1296950 Document Number: 397079
An indirect immunofluorescence test was developed using Leishmania donovani promastigote and amastigote antigens, prepared as thin smears of parasite suspensions. The test showed a very high antibody titre in clinically and parasitologically established cases (n = 30) of kala azar, the geometrical mean reciprocal titre (GMRT) being 870 +or- 5.4 and 5370 +or- 1.80 with promastigote and amastigote antigens, respectively. In contrast, the GMRT obtained with sera from healthy subjects in the same endemic area (Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India) was only 12.44 +or- 6.19 and 80.35 +or- 1.66 with the 2 antigens, respectively. None of the subjects from non-endemic areas suffering from other parasitic diseases, such as malaria, filariasis, amoebiasis, leprosy or tuberculosis (20 cases each) gave a positive response to either antigen.