[Humoral response in Leishmania infantum clinical infections].

We sought a specific humoral response in man in order to find an antigenic marker of Leishmania infantum infection. This study was carried out by the Western blot technique; 42 sera from human patients were analysed on a standard electrophoretic pattern (SDS-PAGE) of L. infantum antigens. Patient sera reacted specifically with 4 (160-, 140-, 94- and 79-Kd) antigens, and reactive antibodies were IgG. We suggest that these antigens may be used for diagnosis of L. infantum visceral leishmaniasis.