DIURNAL PERIODICITY OF LEISHMANIA AMASTIGOTES IN PERIPHERAL-BLOOD OF INDIAN KALA-AZAR PATIENTS

Peripheral blood smears of 20 patients with Indian Kala-azar (KA) were collected throughout the day and night and examined for presence of L eishmania amastigotes. Amastigotes were detected in 46% of peripheral blood samples taken during the day (08:00-17:00 h) and 66% and during the night (18:00-07:00 h). This difference was statistically highly si gnificant (P < 0.0001). The confirmation of amastigote diurnal periodi city is of interest, and the high percentage of parasitemic patients a t night is likely to reflect the biting habit of the sandfly vector of Kala-azar Phlebotomus argentipes. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.