Serological tests used for the diagnosis of tegumentary
leishmaniasis (TL) presents problems, mainly related to their variable sensitivity and/or specificity, which can be caused by low levels of antileishmanial
antibodies or by presence of cross-reactive diseases, respectively. In this context, the search for new antigenic candidates presenting higher sensitivity and specificity is urgently required. In the present study, the amino acid sequences of the LiHyT, LiHyD, LiHyV, and LiHyP
proteins, which were previously showed to be antigenic in the
visceral leishmaniasis (VL), were evaluated and eight
B-cell epitopes were predicted and used for construction of gene codifying a chimeric
protein called ChimLeish. The
protein was expressed, purified and evaluated as a recombinant
antigen in ELISA (
Enzyme-Linked
Immunosorbent Assay) for the diagnosis of TL. The own
B cell epitopes used to construct the chimera were synthetized and also evaluated as
antigens, as well as a soluble Leishmania braziliensis antigenic extract (SLA). Results showed that ChimLeish presented 100% sensitivity and specificity to diagnose TL, while synthetic
peptides showed sensitivity varying from 9.1% to 90.9%, while specificity reached from 98.3% to 99.1%. SLA showed sensitivity and specificity of 18.2% and 98.3%, respectively. A preliminary prognostic evaluation showed that anti-ChimLeish
IgG antibodies declined in significant levels, when serological reactivity was compared before and six months
after treatment, suggesting also a possible prognostic role of this
antigen for TL.