Application of the indirect fluorescent antibody test in the serodiagnosis of cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis in Iran

Abstract

The indirect fluorescent antibody technique (IFAT) was used in Iran for the serodiagnosis of cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis. Antibody titres in 100 negative control subjects were ≤ 1/16. In 126 parasitologically proven cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis 71 (56·3%) were serologically positive, with titres of 1/32 to 1/4096.In 23 clinical kala-azar patients the leishmanial antibody titres ranged between 1/256 and 1/32768, and 17 of these showed amastigotes by direct parasitological examination. It was concluded that at the present time the IFAT appears to be the most practical reliable test for the laboratory diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis in Iran. It may also be useful in the diagnosis of cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis with a low level of parasitic infection.