The micro-ELISA technique in the serodiagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis

The micro-scale Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (micro-ELISA) technique, with alkaline phosphatase as a marker enzyme, has been used for the serodiagnosis of human and canine visceral leishmaniasis, from foci in southern France. This technique which uses a soluble antigen is highly sensitive, with a degree of specificity slightly higher than that of the IFA. It is suggested that the micro-ELISA procedure can be added to the battery of serological techniques and would be particularly useful for large scale epidemiological studies of leishmaniasis.