Global Landscape of Molecular and Immunological Diagnostic Tests for Human Leishmaniasis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Leishmaniasis is a serious global public health challenge. Its accurate diagnosis is essential for guiding treatment but remains complex, often requiring a combination of tests.

Methods

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the applicability and diagnostic accuracy of molecular and immunological tests for human tegumentary (TL) and visceral leishmaniasis (VL), searching PubMed for studies published between 1990-2021.

Results

Among 165 included studies, PCR-based tests showed high accuracy, with area under the curve values (AUC_FPR) of 0.919 for TL and 0.965 for VL. For TL, serological tests exhibited median sensitivities of 83.3-88.1% and specificities of 82.0-92.4%. For VL, the direct agglutination test (DAT) and ELISA de

SUBMITTER: Candia-Puma MA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12655109 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature