Application of Specific Monoclonal Antibodies for Characterization of Leishmania spp. Promastigotes Using Indirect Immunofluorescent and Immunoperoxidase Tests

promastigotes. Monoclonal antibodies are useful in characterization of Leishmania spp. both amastogotes and promastigotes. Objective: Comparing the characterization of Leishmania spp. promastigotes with immunoperoxidase test (Avidin-Biotin) techniques and an indirect immunofluorescent assay (IFA). Methods: Application of specific monoclonal antibodies for characterization of different Leishmania species. Immunoperoxidase tests (Avidin-Biotin) and indirect immunofluorescent assay (IFA) were employed for characterization of different Leishmnia promastigotes from culture. Five monoclonal antibodies including LXXVIII-2E5- A8 (D2) specific for L.donovani:L. infantum, IS2-2B4 (A11) specific for L. tropica, XCIV-H2- AB (T10) specific for L. tropica, XLVI-5B8- B3 (T1) specific for L. major, and T7 reactive to both L. major and L. tropica as well as an anti GP63 mAb were used. Results: The best result was obtained with the dilution of 1:50 for both mAb and conjugate. One hundred percent sensitivity and specificity was achieved for characterization of Leishmania promastogotes with both methods. Conclusion: As immunoperoxidase method needs less equipments compared to IFA technique, it would be a preferred method for characterization of promastigotes