[Contribution of leukoconcentration in the diagnosis of Kala-azar in Tunisia]. / Apport de la leucoconcentration dans le diagnostic du Kala-azar en Tunisie.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The authors had for aim to determine the role of leukoconcentration in the diagnosis of visceral leishmaniosis in immunocompetent children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A study was made on leukoconcentration in blood samples of 84 immunocompetent children presenting with visceral leishmaniosis, hospitalised in the paediatric units of Sousse and Kairouan (Tunisian center) between April 1996 and March 2005. RESULTS: The study group included 34 girls and 50 boys (sex-ratio = 1.47) aged six months to ten years. In this group, 47 patients (56%) presented with positive leukoconcentration. The number of leishmania detected ranged from 1 to 64 per slide; parasitism of PMN leucocytes was noted in nearly half of the cases. CONCLUSION: Parasitemia is frequent in the Mediterranean Kala-azar; therefore leukoconcentration on peripheral blood can be proposed as a first intention examination for the diagnosis of visceral leishmaniosis in immunocompetent children.