The objective of this study was to compare the sensitivity and specificity of rK39,
ELISA and IFA tests for the diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis using blood
samples. Samples were collected from 146 suspected patients and 30 healthy
individual as control. The results showed 52 (35.62%), 58 (39.73%) and 71
(48.64%) positive samples by rK39, ELISA and IFA , respectively. IFA test showed
a higher sensitivity (48.63%) than ELISA and rk39 dip stick (39.72%) and (35.61%)
respectively. The highest sensitivity of agreement (K: 0.912) was found between
rK39 dipstick and ELISA. Therefore, we suggest the application of rK39 dipstick
and ELISA methods in endemic areas of visceral leishmaniasis for early and
accurate diag

The dipstick test was evaluated for sero-diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis. We compared two types of dipstick (rKE16, rK39) tests . The sensitivity of both tests were determined using sera from fifty-two children suspected of having visceral leishmaniasis and thirty healthy children as a control group collected from Central Teaching Hospital of Pediatric in Baghdad. Fifty (96.15%) cases were confirmed to have infection by rKE16 dipstick test while, fourty-six (88.46%) cases were positive by rK39 dipstick test. Non of the sample taken from healthy control showed reactivity in any of these tests. The study indicated that rKE16 test had better sensitivity than rK39 in the diagnosis of VL(100%) ,(92 %) respectively.

This Study· is to investigate the Visceral LeishmaniEJ,sis among 8

susp<:;cted   infants and  young chUdren admitted  1o  AI-Khadhtmiya

Pediatric  Hospital   in Baghdad  between  January  1,2005 o August

31,2005  .For  each  patieni,   a  medical   history  was  obtained  and   a complete physical  examination  was  performed   by physicians  . The serums  of  the .suspected  c_es  were primarily diagnosed by using a new ,simple diagnostic method  bas.ed  on detecting antib9dies  against the  recombinant  K 39  

Background: Iraq is an endemic area for visceral leishmaniasis (VK=L) (kala-azar) which is caused by the intracellular parasite leishmania donovani.

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a parasitic infection caused by an intracellular growth of Leishmania spp. in macrophage cells. The autoimmune disorder is a condition takes place when the immune system produces antibodies which incorrectly attacked its own body tissues. VL has been involved as an effect or on the autoimmune aspect. This study was conducted to identify the auto antibodies profile in patients infected with VL. The presences of auto antibodies in 21 Iraqi children infected with VL were tested for laboratory autoimmune aspect. The highest percentage of seropositive in Leishmania patients was observed for anti-ds DNA, anti-Mi-2, anti-Ku and anti-PCNA antibodies (90.5%, 90.5%, 90.5% and 61.9%) respectively, while the lowest percen

This study aimed to measure the alterations in serum zinc (Zn) and acute phase
proteins ( C-reactive protein and Ceruloplasmin) concentrations in patients with
visceral leishmaniasis (VL). A total of 62 individuals were enrolled in this study :
52 individuals were infected with visceral leishmaniasis and 10 individuals as
healthy control. Serum zinc levels were significantly (p<0.05) decreased in patient
group(76.25 ± 4.59 μg/dl ) when compared with healthy control (103.75 ± 3.77
μg/dl ) . C-reactive protein , as a mediator of innate immunity, removed damaged
cells by activating the classical complement pathway revealed elevated levels in
patients (4.36± 0.23mg/l ) when compared with the healthy control (2

40 blood sample were taken from children infected with kala-azar at age less than ten years, who were admitted to El-Eskan child hospital, and central health laboratory in Baghdad. At the same time 15 sample collected from healthy child for comparing. During research estimated immunoglobulins level ( IgG, IgM, IgA) and (IFAT) IFAT test recorded a higher indicate antibodies level witch was synergistic with infected severity, the stander level of antibodies arrange between 1/16, 1/32 and 1/64 that means it graduate from the lowest one 1/16 into the highest one 1/64 within groups. During infectious the IgG ,IgM level recorded the higher level (2012.9 mg/dl) and (154.3 mg/dl) compared to the control group (874.3 mg/dl),

Back ground: Visceral leishmaniasis is an endemic protozoan disease in Iraq. Recovery from this disease confers a solid and permanent immunity. Immunological assessment of our patients was carried out and the results showed a significant reduction in the percentage of CD3, CD56 and a significant increase in the percentage of CD19 in the peripheral blood lymphocyte of VL in comparison with control group.
Patients and methods: Indirect immunofluorescence technique analysis was performed to detect the percentage of CD3, CD19and CD56 positive lymphocytes.
Results: Our results in the patients groups showed decrease in the percentage of CD3, CD56 and increase in the percentage of CD19. Follow up of patients after

Evaluation of Dot. ELISA test for Diagnosis Visceral Leishmaniasis in Infected Children

  For the first time in Iraq, this study was conducted to evaluate the usefulness of Dot.ELISA, for detecting anti - Leishmania donovani antibodies in serum samples from suspected patient  (children under 8 years ) with Visceral Leishmaniasis V.L..  Sera from 73 V.L. , 60 Healthy controls, and 57   patient with other parasitic diseases other than V.L. (Amoebiasis, Giardiasis , Toxoplasmosis, Schistosomiasis , Hydatidosis, Ascariasis , Lupus Erythromatosus , Viral Hepatitis, and Cutaneous Leishmaniasis) were examined. Anti Leishmania donovani antibodies detected  in 71 out of 73  suspected Visceral Leishmaniasis . Data of this study showed that infection in male group was more than female group. Result o