Beta-mercaptoethanol-modified ELISA for diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis.

Following antigen preparation procedures similar to those of the direct agglutination test (DAT), an IgG ELISA employing intact beta-mercaptoethanol (beta-ME)-treated Leishmania donovani promastigotes was developed. The performance of the beta-ME ELISA thus developed was assessed in patients with confirmed visceral leishmaniasis (VL), revealing slightly lower sensitivity (39/40=97.5%) than that of the DAT (40/40=100%).

Antimony-induced cerebellar ataxia.

Visceral leishmaniasis VL, caused by Leishmania donovani is endemic over several parts of Sudan. The disease is fatal if not treated. Although sodium stibogluconate Pentostam, a pentavalent antimonial is not free from toxicity, it has been in use for treatment of VL for the last 50 years.