HUMORAL RESPONSE OF CEBUS-APELLA (PRIMATES, CEBIDAE) TO INFECTIONS OFLEISHMANIA (LEISHMANIA) AMAZONENSIS, L. (VIANNIA) LAINSONI AND L. (V.) BRAZILIENSIS USING THE DIRECT AGGLUTINATION-TEST

The direct agglutination test (DAT) was used to evaluate the serologic al response of 150 serum samples taken from 15 captive-bred capuchin m onkeys Cebus apella. These animals had been experimentally infected wi th either L. (Leishmania) amazonensis, L. (Viannia) lainsoni or L. (V. ) braziliensis. Monkeys infected with L. (L.) amazonensis or L. (V.) l ainsoni were challenged with the homologous parasite one month after t heir spontaneous cure. DAT antigens were prepared from L. (L.) donovan i, L. (L.) amazonensis and L. (V.) braziliensis. Antigens were difficu lt to standardise and it was impossible to produce an L. (V.) lainsoni antigen as parasites remained aggregated even after trypsinization. T he DAT detected significant humoral responses in ail the infected monk eys. Titres were higher when homologous antigens were used, especially in secondary responses. This suggests that homologous antigen should be used to detect antibodies in human cutaneous leishmaniasis. (C) 199 7 Elsevier Science B.V.