Circulating antibodies in cutaneous leishmaniasis: their detection by immunofluorescence

With the use of an indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) test and freeze-dried antigens, circulating antibody titres of 1 in 100 or above to Leishmania tropica leptomonad forms were detected in 66-6% and 76-2% of 18 patients with active and 21 patients with healed cutaneous leishmaniasis, respectively. Cross-reactivity was observed with L. donovani and Trypanosoma cruzi antigens. Five out of 15 patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis had antibodies to L. tropica major, suggesting a possible cross-reactivity between the two agents.