VISCERAL LEISHMANIASIS;

Validity of polymerase chain reaction in the diagnosis

Abstract

Leishmaniasis is a disease caused by protozoan parasite of genus Leishmania which is transmitted through bites of
infected sand flies. It has been reported that Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is more sensitive and specific test for the diagnosis of
visceral leishmaniasis than bone marrow examination. This recent study is a renewed effort to validate the role of PCR in the diagnosis of
visceral leishmaniasis. Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine the sensitivity and specificity of PCR in the diagnosis of
th visceral leishmaniasis. Duration of study: 25 March 2009 to 24th March 2010. Setting: Armed forces institute of pathology, Rawalpindi.
Study design: Cross sectional (Validation) study. Materials and Methods: A total number of 59 patients of visceral leishmanaisis
diagnosed on bone marrow examination with equal number of negative controls were studied. The subjects were tested for the presence
of visceral leishmaniasis by polymerase chain reaction. Results: All the 59 patients were also found to be positive for visceral
leishmaniasis by PCR. None of the negative control was positive on PCR. Conclusions: The study validates that PCR is equally sensitive
and specific test to bone marrow examination in the diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis.