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Observations on human bone-marrow for Leishmania donovani.
Indian Journal of Pathology & Microbiology
|October 1, 1989
Summary
This study found that bone marrow aspiration detected Leishmania donovani (LD) bodies in 84.61% of suspected Kala-azar cases during an epidemic. Culture analysis confirmed parasite presence in a subset of cases, aiding diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Medical Parasitology
- Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Kala-azar, a severe form of leishmaniasis, poses a significant public health challenge, particularly during epidemics.
- Accurate and timely diagnosis is crucial for effective patient management and disease control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the diagnostic utility of bone marrow aspiration for Kala-azar.
- To assess the efficacy of culture methods in conjunction with microscopy for parasite detection.
- To investigate the age and sex distribution of Kala-azar cases in North Bihar.
Main Methods:
- Bone marrow aspiration from the iliac crest was performed on 65 clinically diagnosed Kala-azar patients.
- Microscopic examination for Leishmania donovani (LD) bodies was conducted.
- Bone marrow cultures were performed on modified Tobie's medium to detect leptomonads.
Main Results:
- LD bodies were identified in 55 out of 65 cases (84.61%).
- Bone marrow culture was negative for leptomonads in 10 cases (15.39%) that were also LD body negative.
- Promastigote forms developed in cultures from 22 out of 55 LD body positive cases (40.00%).
Conclusions:
- Bone marrow aspiration is a highly sensitive method for diagnosing Kala-azar, especially during epidemics.
- Culture analysis can provide supplementary diagnostic information, particularly in microscopy-negative cases.
- Understanding the demographic distribution aids in targeted public health interventions.