[Application of monoclonal antibodies against Leishmania donovani, II. Detection of circulating antigen in sera of visceral leishmaniasis before and after treatment].

Monoclonal antibodies L12F7 against the target antigen of L. donovani promastigotes were used for the detection of circulating antigen (CAg) from sera of visceral leishmaniasis patients. The results showed that of 118 serum samples from visceral leishmaniasis tested, 105 were positive (88.9%). 55 normal serum samples were negative. No cross reaction with sera from patients with vivax malaria, schistosomiasis, leprosy and brucellosis, was found. The authors suggested that this assay may be used as a sensitive and new serodiagnostic test for detecting existing infection of visceral leishmaniasis for epidemiological survey and for assessment of cure after effective treatment.