In this study, humoral (circulating anti-Leishmania antibodies) and cellular (Montenegro's skin test) immune responses of dogs from an endemic area of visceral leishmaniosis were tested using Leishmania chagasi, Leishmania amazonensis and Leishmania braziliensis antigens. The antibody response was tested in three animal groups, selected according to their anti-L. chagasi antibody activity, as measured by ELISA in the serum: 19 negative (O.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe objective of the present study was to analyse the performance of the tests for detection of anti-beta2 glycoprotein I (beta2 GP I) and anticardiolipin (aCL) antibodies for identification of clinical manifestations of the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) as well as carriers of infectious diseases such as Kala-azar, syphilis and leptospirosis were studied. Particular interest was given to the presence of clinical complications related to APS.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn this study, we compare the development of infection and/or disease in Beagle dogs intradermally infected with Leishmania chagasi, in the presence or absence of Lutzomyia longipalpis saliva, with those of intravenously infected animals. Spleen samples of all the animals inoculated with parasites had positive polymerase chain reaction tests for Leishmania DNA. Positive spleen cultures for Leishmania were detected earlier (P < or = 0.
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