Application of electroimmunodiffusion and crossed electroimmunodiffusion tests for the diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis (kala-azar).

Techniques of electroimmunodiffusion (EID) and crossed electroimmunodiffusion (CEID) were applied and compared with the indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) test for the diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis. Results obtained by EID on 28 serum samples of proven cases of kala-azar correlated well with IFA. False-positive reactions were encountered by IFA assay among healthy controls and non-kala-azar patients. Using EID technique, species-specific antibody to L. donovani was demonstrated in all sera of kala-azar patients. CEID was less sensitive than EID as a few false-negative results were obtained with this technique. It is concluded that the EID test which is specific, sensitive and more economical could be applied for diagnosis of systemic leishmaniasis.