Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay test versus bone marrow test for diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis in pediatric patients in Mid-Euphrate Area

Abstract EN

This study was conducted in the mid euphrate region (Al-Qadisiya, Najaf and Karbala provices) during the period between 1 / June 2004 to 1 / May 2006. Two types of laboratory tests were used in this study for the diagnosis of visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) in suspected patients attending to the pediatric hospitals in these provinces.

The study included 2 groups : The first group included 150 child admitted to Al-Qadisiya, Najaf and Karbala hospitals and the diagnosis made on serum samples using Elisa test and the results indicated the sensitivity of this test to be (71.4 %) The second group included 33 child suspected of having visceral leishmaniasis depending on the clinical features and 2 tests (Elisa and Bone marrow) were used for the diagnosis and the results indicated that the sensitivity of these tests were 21 / 33 (63.6 %), and 17 / 27 (62.7 %), respective 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 All patients, admitted to hospitals were found to have mild splenomegally (1-5 cm) below the costal margin .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.