A complement fixation test for visceral leishmaniasis using homologous parasite antigen II. Results in an endemic area in Kenya.

Further studies of the complement fixation test using homologous parasite antigen in an endemic area for visceral leishmaniasis have showed that 82% of individuals with proven visceral leishmaniasis were positive initially whilst 92% were positive at some stage during their illness. Titres fell slowly following effective treatment and anticomplementary activity, confined to confirmed visceral leishmaniasis, was usually lost during treatment. Individuals with alternative causes of hepatosplenomegaly from the same population were negative apart from those with a presumptive diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis but without parasitological confirmation. Less than 1% of people in the same endemic area without visceral leishmaniasis were positive, suggesting that preliminary serodiagnostic investigation would limit the need for invasive investigation under field conditions.