Leishmania Infantum ELISA Kit

Intended Use:
The Bordier Leishmania infantum ELISA kit is intended for the quantitative detection of IgG antibodies against Leishmania infantum in human and canine serum. Serology is an aid for diagnosis and cannot be used as the sole method of diagnosis.

Background:
Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne disease transmitted by sandflies. Infection occurs by different species of the obligate intracellular protozoa of the genus Leishmania. Human infection is caused by about 21 of 30 species known to infect mammals. The most common disease forms are cutaneous leishmaniasis, which causes skin disorders, and visceral leishmaniasis, which affects usually spleen, liver, and bone marrow. The main symptoms are fever, enlarged spleen, and cutaneous affections. Diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis is based on a positive result by serological testing, and positive PCR on bone marrow aspirates or skin-biopsies.

Principle and Presentation:
The kit provides all the material needed to perform 96 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) on breakable microtitration wells sensitized with Leishmania infantum soluble promastigote antigens. Specific antibodies in the sample will bind to these antigens and washing will remove unspecific antibodies. The presence of parasite specific antibodies is detected with a Protein A – alkaline phosphatase conjugate. A second washing step will remove unbound conjugate. Revealing bound antibodies is made by the addition of pNPP substrate which turns yellow in the presence of alkaline phosphatase. Color intensity is proportional to the amount of Leishmania infantum specific antibodies in the sample. Potassium phosphate is added to stop the reaction. Absorbance at 405 nm is read using an ELISA microplate reader.

The test can be performed with automatic systems, but this must be validated by the user.