Detection of urinary leishmanial antigen by latex agglutination test (<i>KA</i>tex) in kala-azar patients

Authors

  • Md Abdus Salam Associate Professor, Dept. of Microbiology, Rajshahi Medical College, Rajshahi
  • Dinesh Mondal Associate Scientist, Parasitology Laboratory, ICDDR,B, Dhaka
  • Mamun Kabir Research Officer, Parasitology Laboratory, ICDDR,B, Dhaka
  • Rashidul Haque Head, Parasitology Laboratory, ICDDR,B, Dhaka

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3329/bjms.v9i4.6688

Keywords:

Visceral leishmaniasis, Kala-azar, KAtex, Ln-PCR, sensitivity, specificity

Abstract

Background: A new unique latex agglutination test (KAtex) that detects a stable, nonprotein, disease specific parasite antigen in the freshly voided urine of patients suffering from active kala-azar has been introduced by Kalon Biological Ltd. UK. This is absolutely non-invasive method of diagnosis for visceral leishmaniasis and suitable for implementation as a rapid diagnostic tool at the point of care.

Objective: Diagnostic potential of KAtex was evaluated among clinically suspected kala-azar patients in an endemic zone of Bangladesh.

Methodology: KAtex was done using freshly voided urine according to the manufacturer’s instructions for sixty (60) clinically suspected patients of kala-azar admitted in Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH), Bangladesh and forty (40) healthy controls during December 2005 to June 2006. Leishmania nested Polymerase Chain Reaction (Ln-PCR) using peripheral blood buffy coat was performed for all study population (100) and Ln-PCR positive cases were considered as confirmed cases of kalaazar.

Results: Out of 60 clinically suspected kala-azar patients, 56 were Ln-PCR positive and 53 of 56 Ln-PCR positive cases were KAtex positive (sensitivity, 94.64%; Mantel-Haenszel Chi sq. 79.66, p= 0.0000, confidence interval [CI], >95 to 100%). None of the healthy controls was found positive by Ln-PCR but 2 of 40 were KAtex positive (specificity, 95%; confidence interval [CI], >95 to 100%). The positive and negative predictive values of KAtex were noted as 98.10% and 92.85% respectively.

Conclusion: This limited prospective study suggests that KAtex is an absolutely non-invasive urinebased antigen detection test with high sensitivity and specificity and may be useful for screening active kala-azar patients, particularly suitable for field use.

Key words: Visceral leishmaniasis; Kala-azar; KAtex; Ln-PCR; sensitivity; specificity.

DOI: 10.3329/bjms.v9i4.6688

Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol.09 No.4 July 2010 pp.216-222

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How to Cite

Salam, M. A., Mondal, D., Kabir, M., & Haque, R. (2010). Detection of urinary leishmanial antigen by latex agglutination test (<i>KA</i>tex) in kala-azar patients. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science, 9(4), 216–222. https://doi.org/10.3329/bjms.v9i4.6688

Issue

Vol. 9 No. 4 (2010)

Section

Original Articles

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