Positive rK39 serologic assay results in US servicemen with cutaneous leishmaniasis
Joshua D Hartzell1, Naomi E Aronson, Peter J Weina
1Infectious Diseases Division, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, District of Columbia 20307, USA. joshua.hartzell@amedd.army.mil
The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
|December 5, 2008
Abstract:
The rK39 test is a serologic assay for the rapid diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis (VL). Serum from a North American cohort of 59 otherwise asymptomatic soldiers with cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) was tested with the rK39 dipstick and ELISA assays, and 10.2% and 28.8% had positive results, respectively. CL is associated with a reactive rK39 assay result in some patients without clinical evidence of VL.
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