Abstract

ARIA, L et al. Comparison of two Leishmania strains in an ELISA for the diagnosis of canine visceral leishmaniasi. Mem. Inst. Investig. Cienc. Salud [online]. 2012, vol.10, n.1, pp.70-75. ISSN 1812-9528.

Visceral leishmaniosis is a disease caused by protozoa of the genus Leishmania. It mainly affects humans and canines, encompassing a wide spectrum of pathological processes from self-healing cutaneous cases to visceral cases with fatal outcome. Leishmaniosis is known in Paraguay since 1913, and there is an increase of cases in parallel to the process of deforestation and agricultural expansion. The infection in dogs is caused by parasites of the genus Leishmania: L. donovani complex, L. infantum species in the Old World and L. chagasi in the New World. Among serological diagnostic techniques, there are direct agglutination (DAT), indirect immunofluorescence (IIF), ELISA, immunochromatography and immunoblotting. The sensitivity and specificity of each test depend largely on the antigen used. However, few comparative analyses have been made in tests using different antigens to identify the best antigen. This work was an analytical study aimed to compare two strains of Leishmania: L. chagasi and L. donovani used in the indirect ELISA for the serological diagnosis of canine visceral leishmaniosis performed in the IICS. Of the samples tested, 173/185 (94%) were concordant. Using the ELISA with L. chagasi antigen as reference, the antigen of L. donovani gave a positivity and negativity of 92% and 100% respectively. An excellent agreement (Kappa 0.82) and a strong association of 125.29 (p <1x10-7) by chi2 were obtained. These results suggest that the antigen of L. donovani could be used in the indirect ELISA for the detection of anti-leishmania antibodies in dogs.

Keywords : leishmaniosis; L. chagasi; L. donovani; ELISA; agreement; diagnosis.

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