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Estudio sero‐epidemiológico del kala‐azar en poblados del distrito de Varanasi, India
Author(s) -
Kumar R.,
Pai K.,
Kumar P.,
Pandey H. P.,
Sundar S.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
tropical medicine and international health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.056
H-Index - 114
eISSN - 1365-3156
pISSN - 1360-2276
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3156.2005.01538.x
Subject(s) - serology , direct agglutination test , medicine , population , typhoid fever , veterinary medicine , malaria , epidemiology , immunology , virology , antibody , environmental health
Summary Objective To evaluate five kala‐azar serological tests for field use. Method Serological survey in Pandit Ka Purva village in Varanasi district, India, using Sia water test, aldehyde test, direct agglutination test (DAT), micro‐enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and dot‐ELISA. Results The total population of the village was 518, 67 of whom showed typical clinical and parasitological features of kala‐azar, including seven who died. The age distribution of kala‐azar cases showed significant differences, being highest among the 45–54‐year age group. The disease was more prevalent among males. Serum samples were collected from 498 persons (96% of total population) including 67 kala‐azar cases and 40 disease controls (malaria, TB, leprosy, typhoid). Ten 10 serum samples from healthy controls living in endemic area were also collected. The test sensitivities were: Sia water test, 85.0%; aldehyde test, 62.7%; DAT, 94.0%; micro‐ELISA, 91.0% and dot‐ELISA, 97.0%. The test specificities were: Sia water test 92.5%, aldehyde test, 93.2%, DAT, 96.7; micro‐ELISA, 97.6% and dot‐ELISA, 98.4%. Conclusion The dot‐ELISA is highly sensitive and specific, cheap, and easy to interpret with the naked eye, making it a powerful screening test for the surveillance and diagnosis of Indian kala‐azar at field level.