[Peripheral blood culture as a diagnostic modality for visceral leishmaniasis: apropos of 61 cases].

The purpose of this prospective study was to assess the efficacy of culture of peripheral blood samples on NNN medium for detecting Leishmania. A total of 61 peripheral venous blood samples were tested. Most samples were collected from immunocompetent children presenting visceral leishmaniasis. The sensitivity of peripheral blood culture was 61%. Concordance with conventional bone marrow culture was good but the marrow technique was quicker. Since it is minimally invasive and easy to perform, peripheral blood culture is an attractive diagnostic alternative in immunocompetent patients. In addition peripheral blood culture presents a major epidemiological advantage in allowing identification of the causative strain of Leishmania if bone marrow culture was not performed for isoenzymatic characterization.