[Immunoenzyme analysis with corpuscular antigen in the serology of leishmaniasis]

Abstract

The authors propose polystyrol carrier enzyme-linked immunoassay using corpuscular Leishmania antigens (intact cells of Leishmania promastigotes)--C-ELISA. The standard lyophilic Leishmania antigen for ELISA may be used as an antigen in indirect immunofluorescence reaction. C-ELISA allowed the authors to determine clear antigenic differences between the mammalian leishmaniasis causative agents (subgen. Leishmania) and the reptilian ones (L. gymnodactyli--subgen. Sauroleishmania). Different levels of the antigenic relationship were demonstrated between separate species within the mammalian Leishmania serogroup. The method shows promise for elaboration of the specific test systems in order to differentially diagnose various nosologic entities of leishmaniasis, including ones in the mixed natural foci.