KALAZAR ALDEHYDE*

Leishmania donovani causes Kala Azar. Cross reactivity may be seen with Trypanosomiasis, Malaria and Leprosy. There are 3 main forms of leishmaniases – visceral (also known as kala-azar and the most serious form of the disease), cutaneous (most common), and mucocutaneous. It is caused by the protozoan Leishmania donovani which are transmitted by the bite of infected female phlebotomine sandflies. This assay detects antibodies to recombinant antigen specific for Visceral Leishmaniasis.