SOLUBLE LEISHMANIA ANTIGEN SPECIFIC WHOLE BLOOD ASSAY AS A MARKER OF ASYMPTOMATIC INFECTION AND DISEASE STATUS IN HUMAN VISCERAL LEISHMANIASIS

摘要

In regions endemic for Visceral leishmaniasis (VL), asymptomatic infection is common and only a small proportion of persons infected with L.donovani develop clinical VL, characterized by febrile splenomegaly and pancytopenia. To detect infection in healthy persons, the Montenegro test or Leishmania skin test (LST) is used along with serological markers. Unfortunately, both tests have many drawbacks: their sensivity and specificity for infection are not clearly established and for LST, lack of GMP grade L.donovani antigen, intradermal administration and reading after 48 hrs. make it very tedious procedure. The present invention provides the compounds and methods of soluble leishmania antigen specific whole blood assay for the detection of IFN-γ production by L. donovani infected, asymptomatic individuals, and for detection of IL-10 secretion as the signature cytokine distinguishing active VL from cured or asymptomatic cases control for monitoring of ongoing transmission in endemic area.