Molecular Identification of Leishmania spp. DNA from Archived Giemsa-Stained Slides of Patients from Salta, Argentina.

This study determined that smear age did not affect PCR positivity, which allows retrospective analyzes and suggests smears might be useful for molecular complementary diagnosis. Because Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis is the main circulating species in the study area, determining Viannia subgenus in all analyzed samples confirms previous findings. PCR positivity showed statistically significant differences according to semiquantitative microscopy, highlighting the importance of parasite burden in the diagnostic sensitivity of the method. Considering that smears of patients with smaller LST induration were more positive in PCR, a negative smear from patients with positive LST response, but < 19 mm, could actually represent a false-negative result. PMID: 30255828 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene - Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Tags: Am J Trop Med Hyg Source Type: research