Scientific Publication

Interleukin-2 as a marker for detecting asymptomatic individuals in areas where Leishmania infantum is endemic

Abstract

No field method exists for identifying asymptomatic individuals in areas where Leishmania infantum is endemic. This work describes a possible new, sensitive and specific marker. Further studies in other transmission areas and cohorts of exposed people need to be performed in order to confirm the results, but it could lead to a blood-based field test to estimate the prevalence of those asymptomatic individuals with Leishmania-specific cellular immune responses. This research is part of the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi)