The systems and methods described herein relate to LED systems capable of generating light, such as for illumination or display purposes. The light-emitting LEDs may be controlled by a processor to alter the brightness and/or color of the generated light, e.g., by using pulse-width modulated signals. Thus, the resulting illumination may be controlled by a computer program to provide complex, predesigned patterns of light in virtually any environment.

Multicolored led lighting method and apparatus

Epidemiological aspects of canine visceral leishmaniosis in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Methods for diagnosis of canine leishmaniasis and immune response to infection

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a life-threatening vector-borne parasitic disease is distributed in some parts of the new world and old world. The disease is endemic in different parts of Iran. This review article has been focused on major topics of epidemiological aspects and clinical features of VL in Iran for the period of 2002 through 2012. For the detection of VL in humans as well as animal reservoir hosts, anti-Leishmania antibodies were detected using direct agglutination test (DAT) as a validated serological test. Parasitological examinations were performed on suspected VL patients as well as canines and rodents. Different molecular methods were used for identification of species and genotype/ or strain of Leishmania spp. isolated from infected humans, animal reservoir hosts and vectors. Altogether, 1698 out of 36081 (4.7%) human serum samples collected from 5 distinct geographical zones showed anti-Leishmania antibodies at titers≥1:3200 using DAT. The majority of VL cases in the endemic areas were found among children up to 12 years old. Almost 75% of DAT-positive cases (≥1:3200) in endemic areas showed clinical signs and symptoms. Predominant signs and symptoms in 217 hospitalized patients with DAT positive (≥1:3200) results included paleness (99.5%), fever (96.9%), splenomegaly (91.5%), hepatomegaly (53.6%) and lymphadenopathy (21.1%). Integrated VL surveillance system in primary care using DAT, could decrease mortality and morbidity of the disease in the VL endemic areas of the northwestern Iran. Out of 7204 serum samples collected from domestic dogs in various geographical locations of Iran, 879 (12.2%) were DAT sero-positive at titers≥1:320. L. infantum as the principal causative agent of the disease was isolated from infected humans, domestic and wild canines and rodents. The principal animal reservoir hosts of the infection are domestic and wild canines. Ph. kandelakii, Ph. perfiliewi transcaucasicus, Ph. tobbi in northwestern Iran; Ph. major s.l. (=Ph. neglectus), Ph. keshishiani, and Ph. alexandri in southern parts of Iran were molecularly and/or parasitologically positive for L. infantum infections. The zoonotic form of VL (ZVL) caused by L. infantum occurs sporadically in all geographical zones of Iran but in northwestern and southern parts of the country the disease is endemic. DAT as an appropriate and potential tool has been used for sero-diagnosis and sero- epidemiological of VL among humans as well as domestic and wild canines.

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Visceral leishmaniasis in Iran: Review of the Epidemiological and Clinical Features.

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) based on soluble antigens derived from promastigote or amastigote-like stages of Leishmania infantum and on the recombinant rK39 antigen, each in combination with different conjugates [anti-immunoglobulin G1 [IgG1], anti-IgG2, anti-IgG(γ), and anti-IgG heavy plus light chains], were compared to an immunofluorescent-antibody test (IFAT) and two commercially available rapid test systems (DiaMed-Vet-IT Leish and ID-PaGIA canine leishmaniasis antibody test) for the detection of specific anti-Leishmania antibodies in symptomatic and asymptomatic dogs with proven L. infantum infections. ELISAs based on soluble promastigote and amastigote antigens had very high sensitivities in symptomatic (n = 30; 100%) and asymptomatic dogs (n = 17; 94.1 to 100%), except when combined with the anti-IgG1 conjugate (41.2 to 82.4%). Specificities were high for all combinations (n = 50; 96 to 100%). The rK39 ELISA detected fewer asymptomatic cases (sensitivities, 52.9 to 64.7%) but was highly specific (96 to 100%). The IFAT was 90% sensitive in symptomatic dogs but was significantly less sensitive in asymptomatic cases (29.4%). However, it had an excellent specificity (100%). Test performances of the rapid tests based on the rK39 antigen were comparable to the ELISAs based on the same antigen. ELISAs based on soluble promastigote or amastigote antigens seem to be most suited for the serological diagnosis of canine Leishmania infections in both symptomatic and asymptomatic dogs. IFAT and the rK39 ELISA lack sensitivity in asymptomatic cases but are highly specific. Rapid tests like the rK39 dipstick test or the ID-PaGIA are helpful for confirming clinically suspected cases because of their high specificities in symptomatic animals.

Evaluation of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, an immunofluorescent-antibody test, and two rapid tests (immunochromatographic-dipstick and gel tests) for serological diagnosis of symptomatic and asymptomatic Leishmania infections in dogs.

A direct agglutination test (DAT) for detection of visceral leishmaniasis in humans has been developed. In this study, it was evaluated for applicability to detection of infections in dogs, a reservoir species. The reliability of the test was improved by treating the test sera with 0.2 M 2-mercaptoethanol and incubating them at 37 degrees C. Sensitivity was 100% and specificity was 98.9% when the test was used on serum samples from 220 dogs, including 26 with parasitologically confirmed canine leishmaniasis, 12 with suspected but unconfirmed leishmaniasis, and 182 with other conditions. The DAT detected specific antibodies in 10 dogs with canine leishmaniasis diagnosed by case history, clinical signs of leishmaniasis, and seropositivity in an immunofluorescence test using either promastigotes or amastigotes, as well as in 2 dogs suspected of having leishmaniasis. The performance of an antigen prepared from a homologous isolate of Leishmania infantum in the DAT was compared with that of an antigen from a laboratory-adapted strain of L. donovani (sensu lato). The homologous antigen compared favorably with the standard antigen, and the results provided further evidence of the potential of the DAT for detection of Leishmania infection in the canine reservoir host. The results of this study, together with those of our previous studies in human visceral leishmaniasis, demonstrate that the DAT is highly suitable for wide-scale epidemiological and ecological field work. This technique could also facilitate diagnosis of leishmaniasis in dogs in veterinary health services.

P de Korte

Papers

Application of a direct agglutination test for detection of specific anti-Leishmania antibodies in the canine reservoir.