[Katex for the diagnosis of human visceral leishmaniasis]

Katex is a latex agglutination test allowing highly specific detection Leishmania antigen in urine of patients with visceral leishmaniasis. A multicentric study of this new diagnostic tool which is also effective in patients co-infected by leishmaniasis and HIV is currently in progress in Sudan, India, Nepal, Brazil and Spain. The authors describe the utility of this technique in comparison with other routine diagnostic procedures such as microscopic examination and serological tests. Preliminary results suggest that it could be used to confirm infection in the field and to monitor treatment efficacy.