THE P REPARATION AND EVALUATION OF REFERENCE LEISHMANIN FROM LEISHMANIA MAJOR FOR USE IN MAN FOR DIAGNOS TIC AND EXPERIMENTAL PURPOSES

Cell-mediated immunity (CMI) plays an important role in resistance against leishmaniasis. Delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reaction measured by skin testing is a practical method of evaluation of CMI and is used as an aid to diagnosis and for epidemiological assessment of exposure to leishmanial infection. Skin testing in leishmaniasis, generally known as Montenegro or leishmanin test, requires a standard antigen. At present no uniform and standard leishmanin is available for skin testing in leishmaniasis. The present work describes the preparation and testing of an antigen from Leishmania major using standard conditions. Three dilutions of this antigen were tested in recovered individuals in an endemic area in Iran. The results obtained showed that leishmanin preparation exhibited high specificity and sensitivity, and strong potency.