Cross-reactive studies in visceral leishmaniasis: comparison of antigens of some Leishmania species in Kenya.

Little is known about the common antigens of the various strains of Leishmania in Kenya, and their possible role in immunity to disease. Kenyan isolates of Leishmania donovani, L. Major and L. tropica were cultured, crude antigens prepared and electrophoresced in sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Immunoblots by pooled sera from cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis patients revealed common antigens within the 110-116kD, 70kD and the 63kD ranges. Only the 112-116kD antigens from L. major strains were reacted to by both cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis patient sera. Sera from normal individuals living in an endemic area for leishmaniasis also showed reactivity to the 116kD antigen. We suggest that these common antigens may be of value in future vaccine studies