Detection of Leishmania in immunocompromised patients using peripheral blood spots on filter paper and the polymerase chain reaction

L Campino, S Cortes, Isa R P Pires, L Oskam, P Abranches

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

23 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the polymerase chain reaction could be used to detect Leishmania infantum in peripheral blood spots of immunocompromised patients. Although visceral leishmaniasis in immunocompromised individuals is routinely diagnosed by direct microscopy or by culture of biopsy material, both methods have disadvantages. In order to evaluate an alternative method of diagnosis, blood spots were collected on filter paper from 24 immunocompromised individuals with visceral leishmaniasis diagnosed by bone marrow microscopy or culture. The samples were tested using the polymerase chain reaction. Leishmania DNA was detected in 15 of 20 patients who had not yet begun treatment for Leishmania infection and in two of four patients undergoing treatment. Using microscopy or culture, parasites were detected in 5 of 19 and 8 of 19 fresh blood samples, respectively. The results suggest that the polymerase chain reaction can be used with blood spots on filter paper as an initial screening method for immunocompromised patients suspected to have Leishmania infection.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)396-398
Number of pages3
JournalEuropean Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases
Volume19
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 2000

Keywords

  • Animals
  • Blood Specimen Collection
  • DNA, Protozoan
  • Filtration
  • Humans
  • Immunocompromised Host
  • Leishmania infantum
  • Leishmaniasis, Visceral
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Journal Article
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

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