ABSTRACT
The diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis [VL] remains problematic for physicians in Syria, because the appearance of this disease is new and its clinical criteria are similar to Malaria, Tuberculosis, and Toxoplasmosis symptoms. For this reason, we used the specific antigen [rK39] of Leishmania donovani complex, in order to certify the appearance of visceral leishmaniasis in some patients. Then we followed the infected cases with VL during treatment [15 days] and after treatment [10 days] with Glucantime. We noted an improvement in clinical criteria and a significant decrease in the parasite numbers as well as in the specific L. donovani antibodies. These data demonstrate the utility of this specific antigen [rK39] in the serodiagnosis of VL. For this reason, we suggest the application of this antigen for sensitive and specific serodiagnosis in the endemic areas in Syria, in order to treat the infected patients early and rapidly