[Immunodiagnostic findings in sera of patients with leishmaniasis, Chagas' disease, malaria and amebiasis in endemic regions of Venezuela (author's transl)]

Abstract

66 serum samples from patients suffering from mucocutaneous leishmaniasis (20), Chagas' disease (12), malaria (16) or amebiasis (18) were collected and examined with five different protozoic antigens (L. donovani, T. cruzi, P. fieldi, P. falciparum, E. histolytica) by means of the indirect fluorescent antibody test, the complement fixation test, the indirect hemagglutination test and the latex agglutination. Cross-reactions were observed only between the sera from patients with leishmaniasis and Chagas' disease, both groups, however, showed stronger reactions with the homologous antigen. There were no cross-reactions among the other antigens and antibodies. The results obtained in this study together with facts already proved by literature show the usefulness of the employed antigens for epidemiological surveys.