TY - JOUR
AU - Saïd, M. Ben
AB - SummaryThe performance of the rK39 strip test in the diagnosis of Tunisian visceral leishmaniasis (VL) was evaluated and compared with that of immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT). A total of 929 sera, including 574 from VL patients, 54 from cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) patients, 42 from patients with other protozoan diseases, 152 from patients with non-parasitic diseases and 107 from healthy controls, were used in the study. The sensitivity and specificity of the rK39 strip test were 87.1 and 94.4%, respectively. Sixteen CL sera showed positive results, suggesting that the rK39 strip test is not restricted to Leishmania donovani complex detection. IFAT was comparatively more sensitive (98.9%) but slightly less specific (90.7%). Despite cross-reactivity shown by CL sera, the rK39 strip test can be recommended for the routine diagnosis of VL in Tunisia, as VL and CL are distinct clinical entities.
TI - Immunochromatographic rK39 strip test in the serodiagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis in Tunisia
JF - Transactions of The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
DO - 10.1016/j.trstmh.2008.10.034
DA - 2009-12-01
UR - https://www.deepdyve.com/lp/oxford-university-press/immunochromatographic-rk39-strip-test-in-the-serodiagnosis-of-visceral-sQYP0DUMA0
SP - 1273
EP - 1278
VL - 103
IS - 12
DP - DeepDyve
ER -