Sero-Diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis in pediatric patients in Mid-Euphrates area

Abstract

This study was conducted in the mid euphrate region (Al-Qadisya, Najaf and Karbala provices) during the period between 1/June 2004 to 1/ May 2006. Three types of laboratory tests were used in this study for the diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis in suspected patients attending to the pediatric hospitals in these provices.The study included 3 groups : The first group included 150 child (the total patients ) admitted to Al-Qadisya, Najaf and Karbala hospitals and the diagnosis made on serum samples using Dipstick and Elisa tests and the results indicated the sensitivity of these tests to be(71.4 % and 67.4 %), respectively. The second group included 33 child suspected of having visceral leishmaniasis depending on the clinical features and 3 tests (Dipstick, Elisa, and Bone marrow) were used for the diagnosis and the results indicated that the sensitivity of these tests were 21/33 (63.6%), 27/33 (81.8%), and 17/27 (62.9 %), respectively. The third group included 17 patients who proved to be infected with VL by bone marrow test and the sensitivity and specificity by dipstick, Elisa, tests were 15/17 (88.23%), 16/17 (94.1%) respectively. This study proved that dipstick test was the simplest, cheapest, and rapid for the diagnosis of VL. It is a safe, highly sensitive (80.2%) and specific (67.4%) and can detect the disease early. Concerning Elisa test, it was found to be sensitive and specific (94.1% and 100%) for diagnosis but there are some difficulties that may limit its use for the time being. It found in this study that all children are susceptible for the disease but those who are 13-24 month old are the most susceptible age was proved by all applied tests, The present study found also that both sexes are susceptible, but the highest incidence of infection found among males (59.3% and 40.7%) among females respectively. The present study proved that, Visceral leishmaniasis found to be more prevalent in Rural than Urban populations (68.3% and 31.7%) respectively.