Comparison of the sensitivity and specificity of laboratory techniques for the diagnosis of Leishmaniasis

Abstract

Leishmaniases are zoonotic and vector-borne diseases, their biological complex comprises different species of parasites, both reservoir and vector, which cause in humans a set of clinical syndromes involving the skin, such as cutaneous leishmaniasis or mucocutaneous leishmaniasis, and there is also another form of systemic presentation known as visceral leishmaniasis. Transmission occurs when a female sandfly infected with the parasite (Leishmania spp.) bites a potential host. Its presence is linked to poverty, social, environmental and climatic factors, which influences its epidemiology. The present study aimed to determine the sensitivity and specificity of laboratory techniques for the diagnosis of leishmaniasis. For this purpose, documentary design research was carried out with an exhaustive search in different databases, using scientific articles in Spanish and English, applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, selecting a total of 39 systematically reviewed articles. The results show that, for each clinical presentation of leishmaniasis, there are several methods such as parasitological, serological and molecular methods that are very sensitive and specific, but an adequate sample must be selected, which will provide fast and efficient results, so that the patient receives timely treatment. Microscopy has a variable sensitivity, but is considered the "gold standard" and depends on the expertise of the analyst, serological tests are more used for visceral leishmaniasis, as for the sensitivity and specificity of molecular methods are excellent, but require trained personnel, reagents, expensive equipment and a special area.