Direct agglutination test and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay with urine samples for the diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis

ABSTRACT

Visceral leishmaniasis [VL] or Kala azar is an infectious disease caused by various species of Leishmania parasites. The aim of this study was to detect and compare the presence of anti-Leishmania antibodies in the urine of visceral leishmaniasis patients using ELISA and DAT methods. A total of 30 urine samples were collected from VL patients referred to Shiraz [southeast of Iran] hospitals. Moreover 31 urine samples were collected from healthy individuals and patients with other diseases such as malaria, brucellosis, hydatidosis and cutaneous leishmaniasis. Collected samples were examined to detect anti-Leishmania antibodies in urine, using ELISA and DAT. Anti-Leishmania antibody was detected in urine of 18 out of 30 [60%] VL patients by DAT while ELISA detected anti-Leishmania antibodies in urine of 28 out of 30 [93.3%] of VL cases. Sensitivity and specificity of urine-based DAT was 60% and 83.9%, respectively while sensitivity and specificity of urine-based ELISA were 93.3% and 93.5%, correspondingly. Urine-based DAT and ELISA have a reasonable specificity and sensitivity in diagnosis of VL. Accordingly, urine-based ELISA might be a suitable alternative for serum based assays for diagnosis of VL