P Salotra1, G Sreenivas, V Ramesh, S Sundar. 1. Molecular Biology Laboratory, Institute of Pathology (ICMR), Safdarjung Hospital Campus, Post Box 4909, New Delhi 110, 029, India. salotra@vsnl.com
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Current methods for diagnosis of post kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) do not offer adequate sensitivity and specificity. OBJECTIVES: To develop a simple and sensitive test for field diagnosis of PKDL. METHODS: Immunochromatographic nitrocellulose strips precoated with recombinant k39 antigen were evaluated for the detection of circulating antibodies to leishmanial k39 in PKDL sera. A drop of serum applied to the strip followed by buffer led to the development of two visible bands indicating the presence of anti-k39 IgG. RESULTS: The strip test was able to detect cases of PKDL with 91% sensitivity. The specificity of the test was evaluated using controls with other skin diseases, other common infections and healthy persons from endemic and non-endemic regions. Of 125 controls examined, all were negative on the strip test, indicating 100% specificity of the test. CONCLUSIONS: The immunochromatographic nitrocellulose strips provide a non-invasive, rapid and accurate method for diagnosing PKDL.
BACKGROUND: Current methods for diagnosis of post kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) do not offer adequate sensitivity and specificity. OBJECTIVES: To develop a simple and sensitive test for field diagnosis of PKDL. METHODS: Immunochromatographic nitrocellulose strips precoated with recombinant k39 antigen were evaluated for the detection of circulating antibodies to leishmanial k39 in PKDL sera. A drop of serum applied to the strip followed by buffer led to the development of two visible bands indicating the presence of anti-k39 IgG. RESULTS: The strip test was able to detect cases of PKDL with 91% sensitivity. The specificity of the test was evaluated using controls with other skin diseases, other common infections and healthy persons from endemic and non-endemic regions. Of 125 controls examined, all were negative on the strip test, indicating 100% specificity of the test. CONCLUSIONS: The immunochromatographic nitrocellulose strips provide a non-invasive, rapid and accurate method for diagnosing PKDL.
Authors: Michaela Fakiola; Anshuman Mishra; Madhukar Rai; Shri Prakash Singh; Rebecca A O'Leary; Stephen Ball; Richard W Francis; Martin J Firth; Ben T Radford; E Nancy Miller; Shyam Sundar; Jenefer M Blackwell Journal: PLoS One Date: 2010-12-31 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Md A Salam; Muhammad A Siddiqui; Shah G Nabi; Khondaker R H Bhaskar; Dinesh Mondal Journal: J Health Popul Nutr Date: 2013-06 Impact factor: 2.000