02113nas a2200325   4500000000100000008004100001260001700042653001500059653001000074653001200084653002600096653002400122653002200146653001000168653001100178653001100189653002400200653002900224653002800253653000900281653001600290100001400306700001200320700001300332245013900345300001100484490000700495520127100502022001401773       1999                            d  c1999 Jan-Feb10aAdolescent10aAdult10aAnimals10aAntibodies, Protozoan10aAntigens, Protozoan10aBlotting, Western10aChild10aFemale10aHumans10aLeishmania donovani10aLeishmaniasis, Cutaneous10aLeishmaniasis, Visceral10aMale10aMiddle Aged1 aSalotra P1 aRaina A1 aRamesh V00aWestern blot analysis of humoral immune response to Leishmania donovani antigens in patients with post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis.  a98-1010 v933 a<p>Sera from 32 Indian patients with post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) were examined for antibodies by immunoblot analysis using an antigen extract of Leishmania donovani. The study revealed that the humoral immune response in PKDL patients was quite distinct compared to that in kala-azar patients. Antibodies to 3 antigens of L. donovani (molecular sizes 110, 65 and 38-42 kDa) were predominant in a majority (78%) of PKDL patients. The most important finding was the consistent recognition of 2 parasite antigens (of 110 and 65 kDa) by PKDL sera; antibodies to the 110-kDa antigen were detectable in 97% of cases, while antibodies to the 65-kDa antigen were detectable in 100% of cases that were examined. None of the 18 cases of leprosy, 10 of vitiligo, or the 30 healthy persons included in the study showed antibodies to these 2 antigens. Thus Western blot analysis provided a highly sensitive test for PKDL patients. Further, it led to the identification of 2 parasite antigens (110 and 65 kDa) that elicit an antibody response in 97-100% of PKDL patients. Purified or recombinant versions of these proteins deserve consideration as potential target antigens in development of simpler, highly specific and sensitive serodiagnostic tests for PKDL.</p>  a0035-9203