Serological Detection of Visceral Leishmaniasis in Infected Children in Al-Kut City

Abstract

The research included a study of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) from an epidemiological and hematological perspective. 230 serum samples were collected from children suspected of being infected with VL visiting al-Kut hospitals. The samples were tested using two immunoassay tests; CTK Biotech test and Rapid InBios test. The infection rate was 8.25%. The ELISA infection rate was 7.38%. The results of the study showed that there were significant differences between the incidence of VL in children and their ages (Table 2), as the highest rate of infection was (10.76%) in the age group (1-5) years, and the lowest rate of infection was (3.63%) in the age group (5-9) a year. When distributing infections among age groups, it was found that infection appears clearly in children, as the highest infection rate was recorded in the age group (1-5) years at a rate of (10.76%). The results of the laboratory examination confirmed the presence of a decrease in the number of packed cells in people with VL when compared with the size of the packed cells in healthy people. The current study also shows results (43.75%) of those infected with the disease had a hemoglobin level of (6.1 gm/dl-8), while (5.55%) of those infected had a hemoglobin level of (gm/dl > 12.1). The study also showed that the white blood cell counts of (37.5%) of the infected people ranged between (Cell/cm 2000-4000), while the white blood cell counts of (5.55%) of the infected people was (Cell/cm < 12000). The results of the current study confirmed the presence of a decrease in the total rate of WBCs for children with VL compared to the control group. In conclusion, our findings indicate that VL impact significantly on the values of hematology; however, furthermore studies are needed to estimate the effect of disease on different biochemical markers