Diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis by the polymerase chain reaction using blood, bone marrow and lymph node samples from patients from the Sudan

TY - JOUR

T1 - Diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis by the polymerase chain reaction using blood, bone marrow and lymph node samples from patients from the Sudan

AU - Andresen, K

AU - Gasim, S

AU - Elhassan, A M

AU - Khalil, E A

AU - Barker, D C

AU - Theander, T G

AU - Kharazmi, A

N1 - Keywords: Animals; Bone Marrow; DNA, Protozoan; Humans; Leishmania donovani; Leishmaniasis, Visceral; Lymph Nodes; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Sensitivity and Specificity; Sudan

PY - 1997

Y1 - 1997

N2 - We have evaluated the sensitivity of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) as a diagnostic tool for Leishmania donovani using blood, bone marrow and lymph node samples from Sudanese patients with a confirmed infection. Forty patients were diagnosed by microscopic examination of bone marrow or lymph node samples. The PCR was able to detect parasite DNA in 37 out of 40 blood samples. In bone marrow and lymph node samples, the PCR was able to detect parasite DNA in all 7 and 6 samples, respectively. We suggest that the PCR should be considered as a valuable and sensitive tool for the diagnosis of L. donovani infection. However, if PCR diagnosis is to supplement or even replace microscopic diagnosis in developing countries, a large number of patients with no apparent signs of infection and patients with other diseases have to be tested in order to evaluate its true potential.

AB - We have evaluated the sensitivity of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) as a diagnostic tool for Leishmania donovani using blood, bone marrow and lymph node samples from Sudanese patients with a confirmed infection. Forty patients were diagnosed by microscopic examination of bone marrow or lymph node samples. The PCR was able to detect parasite DNA in 37 out of 40 blood samples. In bone marrow and lymph node samples, the PCR was able to detect parasite DNA in all 7 and 6 samples, respectively. We suggest that the PCR should be considered as a valuable and sensitive tool for the diagnosis of L. donovani infection. However, if PCR diagnosis is to supplement or even replace microscopic diagnosis in developing countries, a large number of patients with no apparent signs of infection and patients with other diseases have to be tested in order to evaluate its true potential.

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 9217699

SN - 1360-2276

VL - 2

SP - 440

EP - 444

JO - Tropical Medicine & International Health

JF - Tropical Medicine & International Health

IS - 5

ER -