Leishmania major: leishmanicidal activity of activated macrophages by interferon gamma or tumour necrosis factor.

Infective, stationary growth phase metacyclic promastigotes of Leishmania major were introduced to murine peritoneal macrophages and incubated with recombinant murine tumour necrosis factor (TNF) or with interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) in the presence of LPS. The leishmanicidal activity of macrophages was estimated by the visual counting of intracellular parasites as well as by the (3H) thymidine incorporation of the residual parasites. The culture supernatants were also collected for the estimation of nitrite (NO-2) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2).

Visceral leishmaniasis among hypersplenic patients in Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt.

Generally speaking, with rapid international travel, it is very common to diagnose infectious diseases in areas where they were not known before. Nowadays, visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is documented in Egypt mainly in Al Agamy, Alexandria. Another case of infantile visceral leishmaniasis was identified in an adult farmer (unusual host) in Banha.