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Presence of Mycobacterium leprae DNA and PGL-1 antigen in household contacts of leprosy patients from a hyperendemic area in Brazil
- Source :
- Genetics and molecular research : GMR. 14(4)
- Publication Year :
- 2015
-
Abstract
- Leprosy is a highly infectious disease endemic to underdeveloped countries. In Maranhao State, Northeastern Brazil, the hyperendemic rate of 56.11 cases/100,000 inhabitants increased the necessity of better understanding the epidemiological profile of this population, particularly regarding efficient methods for evaluating individuals residing with diagnosed patients to understand disease transmission and the risk of infection. In this study, we examined the percentage of contacts with positive indices for Mycobacterium leprae DNA and phenol-glycolipid-1 antigen (PGL-1). PGL-1 was analyzed by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, the ML-Flow test, and polymerase chain reaction of oral and nasal secretions of 808 leprosy contacts from Maranhao. PGL-1 was detected in 14.0% of patients and differed by operational classification of the index case (P < 0.05). Seropositive results of ML-Flow were 15.0% and identified individuals with and without Bacillus Calmette-Guerin vaccine scars. Molecular diagnosis detected M. leprae DNA in 5.6% of oral samples and 4.6% of nasal tissues, and 87% of subjects resided with high bacillary load patients. This study reinforces the efficacy of combining molecular and serological techniques to identify potential bacillus carriers in the asymptomatic stage of infection, such as in household contacts, highlighting the importance of these meth-ods for monitoring hyperendemic populations.
- Subjects :
- Adult
Male
Adolescent
Endemic Diseases
Population
law.invention
Serology
Young Adult
law
Leprosy
Genetics
medicine
Humans
Serologic Tests
Pathology, Molecular
education
Molecular Biology
Mycobacterium leprae
Index case
Polymerase chain reaction
education.field_of_study
Antigens, Bacterial
Family Characteristics
biology
business.industry
General Medicine
Middle Aged
medicine.disease
biology.organism_classification
Infectious disease (medical specialty)
Immunology
BCG Vaccine
Female
Glycolipids
business
BCG vaccine
Brazil
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 16765680
- Volume :
- 14
- Issue :
- 4
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Genetics and molecular research : GMR
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....21e19bdd13da567d9090bceea185488d