APPLICABILITY OF kDNA-PCR FOR ROUTINE DIAGNOSIS OF AMERICAN TEGUMENTARY LEISHMANIASIS IN A TERTIARY REFERENCE HOSPITAL

Author(s)

Satow, Marcela M. ^[1] ; Yamashiro-Kanashiro, Edite H. ^[1] ; Rocha, Mussya C. ^{[1, 2]} ; Oyafuso, Luiza K. ^[3] ; Soler, Rita C. ^[3] ; Cotrim, Paulo C. ^{[4, 1, 2]} ; Lindoso, Jose Angelo L. ^{[3, 1, 2]}

Affiliation

^[1] Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo, BR-05403000 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Lab Invest Med HC FMUSP, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[3] Inst Infectol Emilio Ribas, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[4] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Med, Dept Molestias Infecciosas & Parasitarias, Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo; v. 55, n. 6, p. 393-399, NOV-DEC 2013.
• Web of Science Citations: 5

Abstract

This study evaluated the applicability of kDNA-PCR as a prospective routine diagnosis method for American tegumentary leishmaniasis (ATL) in patients from the Instituto de Infectologia Emolio Ribas (IIER), a reference center for infectious diseases in Sao Paulo - SP, Brazil. The kDNA-PCR method detected Leishmania DNA in 87.5% (112/128) of the clinically suspected ATL patients, while the traditional methods demonstrated the following percentages of positivity: 62.8% (49/78) for the Montenegro skin test, 61.8% (47/76) for direct investigation, and 19.3% (22/114) for in vitro culture. The molecular method was able to confirm the disease in samples considered negative or inconclusive by traditional laboratory methods, contributing to the final clinical diagnosis and therapy of ATL in this hospital. Thus, we strongly recommend the inclusion of kDNA-PCR amplification as an alternative diagnostic method for ATL, suggesting a new algorithm routine to be followed to help the diagnosis and treatment of ATL in IIER. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 10/16963-4 - Evaluation, standardization and development of molecular markers for the species-specific diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis
• Grantee: Paulo Cesar Cotrim
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants