Demographic and hematological profile of patients undergoing rK39 RDT testing for visceral leishmaniasis, Gondar, Ethiopia, 2012–2013.

<p>IQR: interquartile range; RDT: rapid diagnostic test; WBC: white blood cells</p><p>Demographic and hematological profile of patients undergoing rK39 RDT testing for visceral leishmaniasis, Gondar, Ethiopia, 2012–2013.</p

Comparison of complete blood count.

<p>Comparison of complete blood count.</p

IFN-γ and IL-10 levels in plasma of VL patients and controls.

<p>IFN-γ and IL-10 levels in plasma of VL patients and controls.</p

Frequency of LDGs.

<p>Frequency of LDGs.</p

Frequency of LDGs in blood collected with EDTA and heparin.

<p>Blood from VL patients (n = 23) and non-endemic healthy controls (n = 10) was collected with heparin and EDTA, PBMCs were isolated by Ficoll gradient and the frequencies of LDGS (= CD15+ arginase+ cells[<a href="http://www.plosntds.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pntd.0004468#pntd.0004468.ref012" target="_blank">12</a>]) were determined by flow cytometry. Each symbol represents the value for one individual, the straight lines represent the median, and statistical differences were determined using a Mann-Whitney test. A) VL patients, B) controls.</p

Comparison of Th1 cytokine levels.

<p>Comparison of Th1 cytokine levels.</p

WBC = white blood cells; Plt = platelets; Hct = hematocrit; Hb = haemoglobin.

<p>Normal range: neutrophils (x10³)/μl = 2–7.5, platelets (x10³)/μl = 150–450; white blood cells (x10³)/μl = 4.5–10.5; Hct (%) = 35–60; hb (g/dl) = 11–18,Neutrophil (x10³) These parameters were measured in the blood of VL patients without intestinal parasite co-infections (IP-) and in VL patients co-infected with intestinal parasites (IP+), using a CELL-DYN 1800 Haematology Analyser, USA. Statistical significance was established using a Mann-Whitney test, ns = not significant (<i>p</i><0.05).</p

Arginase activity in plasma from activated whole blood cells.

<p>Blood from VL patients (n = 10) was collected with heparin and EDTA and was activated at 37°C with SLA, PHA or PBS (unstimulated). 24 hours later, the plasma was collected and the levels of arginase activity were measured by enzymatic assay as described in materials and methods. Each symbol represents the value for one individual, the straight lines represent the median. Statistical differences were determined using a Kruskal-Wallis test.</p

Intestinal parasite distribution amongst VL patients.

<p>Intestinal parasite distribution amongst VL patients.</p

IFN-γ levels in plasma from activated whole blood cells.

<p>Blood from non-endemic healthy controls (n = 10) was collected with heparin and EDTA and was activated at 37°C with PHA or PBS (nil = unstimulated). 24 hours later, the plasma was collected and the levels of IFN-γ were measured by ELISA as described in materials and methods and in exactly the same conditions and in the same laboratory as the VL patients. The value obtained for the unstimulated cells (nil) was subtracted from the values obtained for PHA stimulations. Each symbol represents the value for one individual, the straight lines represent the median, and statistical differences were determined using a Mann-Whitney test. The dotted line represents the detection limit.</p