Comparative evaluation of direct agglutination test, rK39 and soluble antigen ELISA and IFAT for the diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis

Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 2008 Feb;102(2):172-8. doi: 10.1016/j.trstmh.2007.11.004. Epub 2007 Dec 26.

Abstract

Five serological tests for the diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) were compared: a direct agglutination test (DAT) based on freeze-dried antigen (DAT-fd); a locally produced DAT (DAT-LPC); an IgG ELISA against rK39 (ELISA-rK39); an IgG ELISA for Leishmania chagasi (ELISA-L. chagasi); and an IgG IFAT against L. chagasi. Serum samples from 88 patients with VL, 20 non-infected individuals and 85 patients with others infectious diseases were evaluated. The sensitivity rates were: DAT-fd, 96.6%; DAT-LPC, 95.5%; ELISA-rK39, 88.6%; ELISA-L. chagasi, 89.8%; and IFAT, 92.0% (P>0.05). The specificity for the control groups varied from 53.3% to 100%. DAT-fd had the highest efficiency (97.4%), followed by DAT-LPC (91.7%) and ELISA-rK39 (90.7%). Our data suggest that DAT-fd, DAT-LPC and ELISA-rK39 are useful tests for the diagnosis of VL and could replace IFAT as the routine diagnostic test in Brazil.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Agglutination Tests / methods
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Protozoan / blood*
  • Antigens, Protozoan / immunology*
  • Brazil / epidemiology
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Endemic Diseases*
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / methods
  • Female
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect / methods
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Tests / methods*
  • Immunologic Tests / standards
  • Infant
  • Leishmania / immunology*
  • Leishmaniasis, Visceral / diagnosis*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Sensitivity and Specificity

Substances

  • Antibodies, Protozoan
  • Antigens, Protozoan