IDENTIFICATION OF AN IMMUNODOMINANT 32-KILODALTON MEMBRANE-PROTEIN OFLEISHMANIA-DONOVANI INFANTUM PROMASTIGOTES SUITABLE FOR SPECIFIC DIAGNOSIS OF MEDITERRANEAN VISCERAL LEISHMANIASIS
F. Tebourski et al., IDENTIFICATION OF AN IMMUNODOMINANT 32-KILODALTON MEMBRANE-PROTEIN OFLEISHMANIA-DONOVANI INFANTUM PROMASTIGOTES SUITABLE FOR SPECIFIC DIAGNOSIS OF MEDITERRANEAN VISCERAL LEISHMANIASIS, Journal of clinical microbiology, 32(10), 1994, pp. 2474-2480
Sera from 35 patients suffering from Mediterranean visceral leishmania
sis (caused by Leishmania donovani infantum) and 59 patients with vari
ous forms of cutaneous leishmaniasis prevalent in the sub-Mediterranea
n countries (caused by Leishmania major, L. donavani infantum, or Leis
hmania tropica) were tested by immunoblotting and enzyme-linked immuno
sorbent assay (ELISA) with both membrane and soluble antigens prepared
from L. donovani infantum parasites. Control sera were from healthy c
hildren (n = 41), adults with nonleishmanial diseases (n = 40), and pa
tients with Chagas' disease (n = 12). A P32 antigen present in the mem
brane preparation from L. donovani infantum parasites was recognized b
y 95% of serum specimens from patients,vith Mediterranean visceral lei
shmaniasis but not by serum specimens from patients,vith cutaneous lei
shmaniasis or sera from control individuals. An ELISA with electroelut
ed P32 antigen was found to have a specificity and sensitivity of 94%
in the serodiagnosis of Mediterranean visceral leishmaniasis. Healthy
children with asymptomatic Leishmania infection were seronegative for
the P32 antigen by ELISA. These results suggest that antibodies to P32
antigen develop only in patients with visceral leishmaniasis and that
the P32 ELISA may be useful in areas where the disease is endemic for
discriminating between patients with this disease and those with othe
r clinical conditions.