Latent leprosy infection identified by dual RLEP and anti-PGL-I positivity: Implications for new control strategies.

ABSTRACT: The number of new cases of leprosy reported worldwide has remained essentially unchanged for the last decade despite continued global use of free multidrug therapy (MDT) provided to any diagnosed leprosy patient. In order to more effectively interrupt the chain of transmission, new strategies will be required to detect those with latent disease who contribute to furthering transmission. To improve the ability to diagnose leprosy earlier in asymptomatic infected individuals, we examined the combined use of two well-known biomarkers of M. leprae infection, namely the presence of M. leprae DNA by PCR from earlobe slit skin smears (SSS) and positive antibody titers to the M. leprae-specific antigen, Phenolic Glycolipid I (anti-PGL-I) from leprosy patients and household contacts living in seven

SUBMITTER: da Silva MB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8118453 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature