ABSTRACT
Different methods have been used for characterization of Leishmania promastigotes. Monoclonal antibodies are useful in characterization of Leishmania spp. both amastogotes and promastigotes. Comparing the characterization of Leishmania spp. promastigotes with immunoperoxidase test [Avidin-Biotin] techniques and an indirect immunofluorescent assay [IFA]. Application of specific monoclonal antibodies for characterization of different Leishmania species. Immunoperoxidase tests [Avidin-Biotin] and indirect immunofluorescent assay [IFA] were employed for characterization of different Leishmnia promastigotes from culture. Five monoclonal antibodies including LXXVIII-2E5- A8 [D2] specific for L. donovani:L. infantum, IS2-2B4 [A11] specific for L. tropica, XCIV-H2- AB [T10] specific for L. tropica, XLVI-5B8- B3 [Tl] specific for L. major, and T7 reactive to both L. major and L. tropica as well as an anti GP63 mAb were used. The best result was obtained with the dilution of 1:50 for both mAb and conjugate. One hundred percent sensitivity and specificity was achieved for characterization of Leishmania promastogotes with both methods. Conclusion: As immunoperoxidase method needs less equipments compared to IFA technique, it would be a preferred method for characterization of promastigotes
ABSTRACT
Bakground: Monoclonal antibodies have been employed extensively for the identification of Leishmania species, development of diagnostic tests and in the characterization of defined leishmanial antigens
Objectives: Identification and characterization of Leishmania spp. directly from cutaneous lesions of infected individuals
Methods: An immunoperoxidase test [Avidin-Biotin technique] using monoclonal antibodies was used for this purpose. One hundred and fifty individuals referring to Dermatology Clinic or Parasitology and Mycology Department of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences were chosen of whom a total of 28 individuals whose smears showed a large number of amastigotes after staining with Giemsa were included in this study. Five monoclonal antibodies designated: D2 [against L. donovani], All andTIO [against L. Tropica], Tl [against L. major] and T7 [against L. tropica and L. major] were used. Amastigotes were identified by Labeled Avidin Biotin [LAB] method
Results: LAB method for identification of amastigotes in impression smears of patient lesions showed that 20 out of 28 cases [71%] were positive. Among these 12 [60%] and 7[35%] were identified as L. tropica andL. major respectively
Conclusion: The results showed that immunoperoxidase is suitable for in situ identification and characterization of Leishmania spp. at the species level