Ams. Elassad et al., THE SIGNIFICANCE OF BLOOD-LEVELS OF IGM, IGA, IGG AND IGG SUBCLASSES IN SUDANESE VISCERAL LEISHMANIASIS PATIENTS, Clinical and experimental immunology, 95(2), 1994, pp. 294-299
We developed an ELISA test using leishmania antigenic extracts to dete
ct antigen-specific antibody responses, including subclass and isotype
analysis, in visceral leishmaniasis (VL) patients from the Sudan. A t
otal of 92 parasitologically proven patients were compared with cutane
ous leishmaniasis, schistosomiasis, malaria, onchocerciasis and tuberc
ulosis patients, as well as with healthy endemic and non-endemic contr
ols. Some VL patients were examined before and after chemotherapy. VL
patients showed significantly higher IgG responses compared with all o
ther groups (9.34% sensitivity, 93.7% specificity), and higher (but no
t significantly) IgM responses. All groups showed low IgA levels. All
IgG subclasses, IgG1, 2, 3, and 4, showed higher levels in patients th
an all other groups, with IgG1 and IgG3 levels being significantly red
uced following treatment. The rank order for specificity and sensitivi
ty for IgG subclasses was IgG3 > IgG1 > IgG2 > 1gG4.