Bartonella henselae as a putative trigger for chronic type 2 leprosy reactions.

Leprosy reactions are an acute inflammatory phenomenon that can arise before diagnosis, during treatment, or after cure of leprosy. These reactions are considered one of the main diseases that cause physical disabilities. Immunosuppressive treatment for these immune responses makes these patients susceptible to coinfections, which can trigger new leprosy reactions. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of infection by Bartonella sp. in blood samples from 47 patients who had untreatable episodes of type 2 leprosy reactions for more than six months, comparing them with a control group. Cultures and molecular methods (PCR) were used. Amplicons from species-specific reactions and sequencing showed a higher prevalence of Bartonella henselae infection in patients, 19/47 (40.4 %), compared to control, 9/50 (18.0 %), p = 0.0149. Five patients accepted treatment for coinfection, and all showed improvement in leprosy reactions with treatment for B. henselae infection. We conclude that these bacteria can trigger chronic reactions of type 2 leprosy and should be investigated in these patients. SUMMARY LINE: Patients who have chronic type 2 leprosy reactions are more susceptible to Bartonella henselae infection than controls: 19/47 (40.4 %) compared 9/50 (18.0 %), p = 0.0149.

Sensitivity of different DNA extraction methods and PCR to detect resistance in patients with leprosy stratified by the bacilloscopic index.

INTRODUCTION: Antimicrobial resistance in leprosy is an emerging problem, and the quantitative impact of low bacilloscopic indexes (BIs) on the sensitivity of molecular tests is unknown. We aimed to evaluate the sensitivity of gene sequencing for the detection of mutations related to antimicrobial resistance in Mycobacterium leprae in patients with low BIs using an analytical model. METHODS: Patients with leprosy were included and divided into two groups depending on their BIs (≥ 2+ and < 2+). The sensitivities of the two DNA extraction methods were compared after amplifying and sequencing the repetitive element (RLEP), folP1, rpoB and gyrA in M. leprae. RESULTS: We included 56 patients with leprosy: 35 had BIs less than 2+ (22 had negative slit-skin smear [SSS] results) and 21 patients had BIs greater than or equal to 2+. The sensitivity of the amplification of the RLEP target and the gene sequencing of folP1, rpoB and gyrA was 50 to 70% lower in patients with a BI less than 2+ and was significantly reduced in patients with lower BIs for all targets (p < 0.001). One patient had a mutation in the folP1 gene, and 14 patients had mutations in the gyrA gene, but no mutations related to antimicrobial resistance were found. CONCLUSIONS: We can conclude that the sensitivity of molecular tests is directly related to the BI, but these tests can still detect up to 20% of the targets in patients with BIs < 2+. New strategies to improve the sensitivity for detecting antimicrobial resistance in leprosy patients and reasonable clinical criteria for follow-up and the introduction of alternative treatments must be developed.

Rapid diagnosis of Leishmania infection with a portable loopmediated isothermal amplification device.

L. donovani is an intracellular protozoan parasite, that causes visceral leishmaniasis (VL), and consequently, post-kala azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL). Diagnosis and treatment of leishmaniasis is crucial for decreasing its transmission. Various diagnostic techniques like microscopy, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) and PCR-based methods are used to detect leishmaniasis infection. More recently, loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay has emerged as an ideal diagnostic measure for leishmaniasis, primarily due to its accuracy, speed and simplicity. However, point-of-care diagnosis is still not been tested with the LAMP assay. We have developed a portable LAMP device for the monitoring of Leishmania infection. The LAMP assay performed using our device can detect and amplify as little as 100 femtograms of L. donovani DNA. In a preliminary study, we have shown that the device can also amplify L. donovani DNA present in VL and PKDL patient samples with high sensitivity (100%), specificity (98%) and accuracy (99%), and can be used both for diagnostic and prognostic analysis. To our knowledge, this is the first report to describe the development and application of a portable LAMP device which has the potential to evolve as a point-of-care diagnostic and prognostic tool for Leishmania infections in future.

Detection of Mycobacterium leprae DNA in clinical and environmental samples using serological analysis and PCR.

BACKGROUND: Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae and persists as a serious public health problem in Brazil. This microorganism is inculturable, making it difficult to diagnose and elucidate details of its transmission chain. Thus, this study aimed to analyze the dynamics of environmental transmission of M. leprae in a case-control study in the city of Mossoró, Brazil. METHODS AND RESULTS: Data of clinical, epidemiological, bacilloscopic, and serological evaluation of 22 newly diagnosed patients were compared, with molecular results of detection of specific genome regions RLEP and 16S rRNA of M. leprae in samples of the nasal swab, saliva, and house dust of these individuals and their controls (44 household contacts and 44 peridomiciliar contacts). The rapid serological tests evaluated, ML flow (IgM ND-O-BSA) and OrangeLife® (IgM and IgG anti NDO-LID 1) showed similar results, with greater positivity among paucibacillaries by OrangeLife® (54.5%). Positivity for nasal swab and saliva in multibacillary patients with RLEP primer was 16.7% and 33.3%, respectively. There was no detection of bacterial DNA in house dust or among paucibacillaries. The OrangeLife® test indicated that the lower the amount of windows, the more transmission in the house (3.79 more chances). Having a history of leprosy cases in the family increased the risk by 2.89 times, and being over 60 years of age gave 3.6 times more chances of acquiring the disease. PCR positivity was higher among all clinical samples using the M. leprae RLEP region than 16S rRNA. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the serological and PCR analysis were capable of detecting M. leprae DNA in clinical samples but not in the environmental samples. Close monitoring of patients and household contacts appears an effective measure to reduce the transmission of leprosy in endemic areas.

Sensitivity and specificity of multibacillary and paucibacillary leprosy laboratory tests: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

This systematic review (number register: CRD42018112736) was performed to compare the sensitivity and specificity of leprosy diagnostic methods. The search was conducted in 3 electronic databases in January 2021. Studies evaluating leprosy diagnostic tests were included according the eligibility criteria. Meta-analysis was performed to calculate the sensibility and specificity of the groups. We included 36 studies. The test sensitivity for paucibacillary patients was 0.31 (95%CI: 0.29-0.33) and the specificity was 0.92 (95%CI: 0.92-0.93). In multibacillary patients, the sensitivity was 0.78 (95%CI: 0.77-0.80) and specificity was 0.92 (95%CI: 0.92-0.93). Comparing the sensitivity and specificity of the different techniques included, it should be noted that polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test presented the highest sensitivity for paucibacillary patients, while the western blot technique showed the highest sensitivity for multibacillary patients. However, further studies are needed to optimise the diagnosis of leprosy, requiring research with a larger number of samples and more uniform protocols.

Diagnostic Utility of Biplex/Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction in Infectious Granulomatous Dermatitis in North Indian Population.

BACKGROUND: A definite diagnosis of infectious granulomatous dermatitis (IGD) is difficult for both practicing dermatologists and dermatopathologists due to overlapping clinical and histomorphological features. We aimed to explore the role of multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for identifying a definite etiological agent for diagnosis and appropriate treatment in IGD in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-two cases of IGD were included, excluding leprosy. The histochemical stains including Ziehl-Neelsen, periodic acid-Schiff, and Giemsa were performed in all cases. A multiplex PCR was designed for detection of tuberculosis (TB) (IS6110 and mpt64), fungal infections (ITS1, ITS2; ZM1, and ZM3), and leishmaniasis (kDNA). The results of histomorphology, histochemical stains, and multiplex PCR were compared. RESULTS: Among 62 cases, the sensitivity rate of PCR detection for organisms was 16.7%, 0%, 100%, 72%, 75%, and 66.7% in patients with TB, suggestive of TB, leishmaniasis, fungal infections, and granulomatous dermatitis not otherwise specified and granulomatous dermatitis suggestive of fungus, respectively. The TB PCR using IS6110 primers was negative in all cases; however, PCR using mpt64 primers was positive in 33.33% cases of scrofuloderma. The histochemical stains including Ziehl-Neelsen for acid-fast bacilli, periodic acid-Schiff for fungus, and Giemsa for Leishman-Donovan bodies showed positivity in 11.3%, 43.5%, and 3.2%, respectively. CONCLUSION: A multiplex PCR (Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Leishmania, and panfungal) is highly recommended in all cases of IGD where an etiological agent is difficult to establish by skin biopsy and histochemical stains along with a clinicopathological correlation. This will augment in appropriate treatment and will reduce empirical treatment and morbidity in such patients.

Molecular epidemiology and transmission dynamics of leprosy among multicase families and case-contact pairs.

BACKGROUND: Human-to-human transmission of Mycobacterium leprae among household contacts of active leprosy cases is significant, and surveillance of household contacts is vital to interrupting the transmission chain for this disease. This study was conducted to identify similarities in M. leprae strains, based on genomic single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), among cases and their household contacts and in multicase families in order to decipher possible associations, transmission links, various clinical conditions of index cases that enhance person-to-person transmission, and timelines for transmission patterns. METHODS: PCR for M. leprae DNA detection (amplification of the Rlep gene) and SNP subtyping of M. leprae strains was performed for 61 index cases and one of their household contacts. Additionally, we studied six families with multiple cases of leprosy, to understand timelines of infectivity and its relation to severity of the disease in the index cases. RESULTS: Index cases with lepromatous (LL) and borderline lepromatous (BL) leprosy, together with a positive bacteriological index (BI) for M. leprae, result in a higher percentage of their contacts subclinically infected with M. leprae, with odds ratios (OR) of 6.6 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.6-27.6) for BL and LL, and 7.07 (CI 1.41-35.41) for BI-positive index cases. 75% of the case-contact pairs had a similar SNP subtype of M. leprae. The timeline of infection in multicase families revealed that contacts were infected during the BI-positive period of the index case. CONCLUSION: Using molecular methods, we determined that positivity for M. leprae DNA in contacts of index leprosy cases was attributed to clinical characteristics of leprosy in the index cases. LL and BL forms of leprosy, together with positive BI, contributed to dissemination of infection to household contacts. In conclusion, we found a relationship between SNP subtypes within index case-contact pairs. This method can help decipher the transmission patterns and identify individuals at risk of contracting leprosy.

Ultra-sensitive detection of Mycobacterium leprae: DNA extraction and PCR assays.

Leprosy urgently needs a precise and early diagnostic tool. The sensitivity of the direct (bacilli staining, Mycobacterium leprae DNA) and indirect (antibody levels, T cell assays) diagnostics methods vary based on the clinical form. Recently, PCR-based M. leprae DNA detection has been shown to differentially diagnose leprosy from other dermatological conditions. However, accuracy can still be improved, especially for use with less invasive clinical samples. We tested different commercial DNA extraction kits: DNeasy Blood & Tissue, QIAamp DNA Microbiome, Maxwell 16 DNA Purification, PowerSoil DNA Isolation; as well as in-house phenol-chloroform and Trizol/FastPrep methods. Extraction was performed on M. leprae-infected mouse footpads and different clinical samples of leprosy patients (skin biopsies and scrapings, lesion, oral and nasal swabs, body hair, blood on FTA cards, peripheral whole blood). We observed that the Microbiome kit was able to enrich for mycobacterial DNA, most likely due the enzymatic digestion cocktail along with mechanical disruption involved in this method. Consequently, we had a significant increase in sensitivity in skin biopsies from paucibacillary leprosy patients using a duplex qPCR targeting 16S rRNA (M. leprae) and 18S rRNA (mammal) in the StepOnePlus system. Our data showed that the presence of M. leprae DNA was best detected in skin biopsies and skin scrapings, independent of the extraction method or the clinical form. For multibacillary patients, detection of M. leprae DNA in nasal swabs indicates the possibility of having a much less invasive sample that can be used for the purposes of DNA sequencing for relapse analysis and drug resistance monitoring. Overall, DNA extracted with the Microbiome kit presented the best bacilli detection rate for paucibacillary cases, indicating that investments in extraction methods with mechanical and DNA digestion should be made.

Appropriately Selected Nerve in Suspected Leprous Neuropathy Yields High Positive Results for Mycobacterium leprae DNA by Polymerase Chain Reaction Method.

Identification of Mycobacterium leprae DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a reliable and an affordable method to confirm leprosy. DNA from 87 nerve samples (61 from paraffin blocks and 26 fresh samples) was extracted. Mycobacterium leprae DNA was amplified by PCR from 80/87 (92%) specimens. Patients were seen over a period of 11 years (2007-2019), and leprosy was diagnosed based on clinical and characteristic histopathology findings. The clinical diagnostic possibilities were as follows: leprous neuropathy in 73/80 (91.3%), mononeuritis multiplex of unknown etiology in four (5.0%), vasculitic neuropathy in two (2.5%), and distal symmetric sensory motor neuropathy in one (1.3%). The biopsied nerves were as follows: superficial radial = 34 (42.6%), dorsal cutaneous branch of ulnar = 19 (23.8%), sural = 18 (22.5%), and superficial peroneal = 9 (11.3%), and corresponding neurological deficits were recorded in 77 (96.3%) cases. The histopathological diagnoses in total group were as follows: (borderline tuberculoid (BT) = 52, tuberculoid (TT) = 8, borderline lepromatous (BL) = 8, borderline borderline (BB) = 3, nonspecific inflammation = 3, healed/fibrosed = 4, and axonopathy = 2). Acid fast bacilli (AFB) was demonstrated in 11 (13.7%) samples. For comparison, 31 clinically and histopathologically defined non-leprous disease control nerves (inherited neuropathy = 20, vasculitis = 8, and nutritional neuropathy = 3) subjected to PCR were negative for M. leprae DNA. In most instances, there are multiple thickened peripheral nerves in suspected cases of leprosy, but neurological deficits pertaining to the thickened nerve are not as widespread. The current findings emphasize the importance of selecting the most appropriate nerve for biopsy to obtain a positive PCR result. We infer that clinical, histopathological, and PCR tests complement each other to help achieve a definitive diagnosis of leprosy particularly in pure neuritic leprosy and in leprous neuropathy with negative skin smears/biopsy.

Ultra-sensitive detection of Mycobacterium leprae: DNA extraction and PCR assays

Leprosy is difficult to diagnose since it is caused by a bacterium that does not grow in vitro. Bacilli direct detection or the presence of specific antibodies can vary greatly depending on the clinical form. M. leprae direct DNA detection can aid clinical diagnosis, although invasive skin biopsies are still necessary to detect the pathogen or histological features consistent with leprosy. Here we show that a kit combining mechanical and chemical lysis efficiently removes host DNA and enriches for M. leprae DNA, allowing better detection of paucibacillary cases. We believe our findings can contribute to improving disease diagnosis, as well as early detection and that could help monitoring strategies(AU).

Nested PCR and the TaqMan SNP Genotyping Assay enhanced the sensitivity of drug resistance testing of Mycobacterium leprae using clinical specimens of leprosy patients.

BACKGROUND: Although leprosy is efficiently treated by multidrug therapy, resistance to first-line (dapsone, rifampin) and second-line (fluoroquinolones) drugs has been described worldwide. However, the characteristics of drug resistance in Southwest China remain unknown. Furthermore, the sensitivity of polymerase chain reaction (PCR)/sequencing for resistance detection is limited, especially for paucibacillary (PB) leprosy patients. The current study aimed to develop a nested PCR/sequencing and TaqMan SNP Genotyping Assay to increase the sensitivity of the method used to detect drug resistance in Mycobacterium leprae and to reveal the nature of M. leprae drug resistance in Southwest China. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Seventy-six specimens, including skin biopsy (n = 64), formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) (n = 11) and skin-slit smear (SSS) (n = 1) samples from multibacillary (MB, n = 70) and PB (n = 6) leprosy patients from Southwest China, were included in this study. The presence of mutations in drug resistance-determining regions (DRDRs) of the rpoB, folP1, and gyrA genes, which are associated with rifampicin, dapsone, and quinolone resistance, respectively, was detected by PCR/sequencing, as recommended by the WHO, and the nested PCR and TaqMan SNP Genotyping Assay developed in this study. Mutations in the folP gene were detected in 19 (25.00%) samples, indicating dapsone-resistant M. leprae, with one (1.31%) sample showing mutations in two genes, folP and gyrA, reflecting multidrug-resistant strains to dapsone and ofloxacin. However, no rpoB mutation was detected. Compared with PCR/sequencing, nested PCR increased the sensitivity of detecting rpoB (from 51.39% to 78.94% for leprosy patients and from 0.00% to 50.00% for PB), gyrA (from 75.00% to 80.26% for leprosy patients and from 50.00% to 66.67% for PB), and folP1 (from 5.26% to 84.21% for leprosy patients and from 0.00% to 66.67% for PB). Moreover, the TaqMan SNP Genotyping Assay showed greater sensitivity for folP1 detection (from 5.26% to 78.94-86.84% for leprosy patients and from 0.00% to 33.33%-83.33% for PB patients) than the PCR/sequencing method. In addition, the latter method was able to more easily distinguish heterozygous genotypes and mutant homozygous genotypes from homozygous genotypes. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Nested PCR/sequencing and the TaqMan SNP Genotyping Assay are rapid and highly sensitive methods for detecting drug resistance in leprosy cases. The current study revealed that diamino-diphenylsulfone (DDS; also known as dapsone) resistance in M. leprae, as indicated by folP1 gene detection, is still the most concerning form of drug resistance in leprosy patients from Southwest China.

Develop and Field Evolution of Single Tube Nested PCR, SYBRGreen PCR Methods, for the Diagnosis of Leprosy in Paraffin-embedded Formalin Fixed Tissues in Yunnan Province, a Hyper endemic Area of Leprosy in China.

BACKGROUND: Detection and pathology analysis of Mycobacterium leprae using skin biopsy tissues are essential for leprosy diagnosis and monitoring response to treatment. Although formalin fixation of patient tissues may not be ideal for molecular studies, biopsy samples are the most accessible material from suspected cases. Therefore, clinical molecular laboratories must be able to utilize formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) material. OBJECTIVE: To determine the best molecular method for diagnosing and monitoring leprosy in FFPE specimens, we developed a single-tube nested PCR (STNPCR) (131 bp) and SYBRGreen PCR (101 bp) assay using primers for the M. leprae-specific repetitive element (RLEP) gene and evaluated the results compared to those using previously established RLEP primers (372 bp). METHODS: FFPE biopsy samples obtained from 145 leprosy patients (during or after multidrug therapy (MDT)) and patients with 29 other confounding dermatoses were examined by the bacteria index (BI) and by simple PCR, STNPCR, and SYBRGreen PCR using primers amplifying a 372-bp, 131-bp or 101-bp fragment of RLEP, respectively. RESULTS: In leprosy patients receiving MDT, STNPCR showed a highest specificity of 100% and a positive predictive value (PPV) of 100%. For multibacillary (MB), paucibacillary (PB) and all leprosy patients, the highest sensitivities were 91.42%, 39.13%, and 67.92%, negative predictive values (NPVs) were 8.57%, 60.36%, and 32.07%, and the highest accuracies were 93.93%, 62.67%, and 74.81%, respectively, higher than the results of SYBRGreen PCR and simple PCR. For post-MDT leprosy patients, SYBRGreen PCR showed the highest sensitivity of 50.0%, highest specificity of 100%, a PPV of 100%, an NPV of 100% and the highest accuracy of 83.72% for MB patients, which were higher than those of STNPCR and simple PCR. STNPCR showed the highest sensitivity of 26.66% and 34.48%, highest specificity of 100% and 100%, a PPV of 100% and 100%, NPV of 72.50% and 60.21%, and highest accuracy of 75.00% and 67.24% for PB and leprosy patients, respectively, higher than those of SYBRGreen PCR and simple PCR. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that STNPCR or SYBRGreen PCR (131-bp and 101-bp fragment amplification, respectively) for RLEP using FFPE specimens performs better as a diagnostic test and for monitoring response to MDT than does simple PCR based on 372-bp fragment amplification. Additionally, STNPCR showed increased sensitivity for PB diagnosis using FFPE specimens, which can be transferred remotely or retrieved from previous leprosy patients.

PCR detection for syphilis diagnosis: Status and prospects.

Syphilis, a re-emerging public health problem worldwide caused by Treponema pallidum subsp pallidum (T. pallidum), usually induces systemic and chronic inflammation in hosts who do not receive timely therapy after exposing to high-risk factors such as leprous sexual contact. Before the treatment, rapid and accurate detection of syphilis is essential. However, the existing detection methods, which focus on the treponemal or non-treponemal antibody test, both have inherent limitations. For instance, both of them cannot distinguish the stage and severity of syphilis. Non-treponemal test such as RPR, which is generally deemed to be used for assessing treatment response, is influenced by biological false positives. Therefore, it is imperative to seek out a new and effective diagnostic test. With recent advancements in molecular biology and whole-genome sequencing, the molecular diagnosis has increased in popularity, especially the use of polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Here, we firstly present a mini-review on the research of PCR detection methods used for syphilis diagnosis over the past decade, and we then compare these methodologies to assess their potential and the challenges faced. This information can provide a fresh perspective to help researchers address the current challenges.

Development and evaluation of a droplet digital PCR assay for the diagnosis of paucibacillary leprosy in skin biopsy specimens.

BACKGROUND: The reduced amounts of Mycobacterium leprae (M. leprae) among paucibacillary (PB) patients reflect the need to further optimize methods for leprosy diagnosis. An increasing number of reports have shown that droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) is a promising tool for diagnosis of infectious disease among samples with low copy number. To date, no publications have investigated the utility of ddPCR in the detection of M. leprae. The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate a ddPCR assay for the diagnosis of PB leprosy. METHODOLOGY: The two most sensitive DNA targets for detection of M. leprae were selected from electronic databases for assessment of sensitivity and specificity by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and ddPCR. Control patients (n = 59) suffering from other dermatological diseases were used to define the cut-off of the duplex ddPCR assay. For comparative evaluation, qPCR and ddPCR assays were performed in 44 PB patients and 68 multibacillary (MB) patients. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: M. leprae-specific repetitive element (RLEP) and groEL (encoding the 65 kDa molecular chaperone GroEL) were used to develop the ddPCR assay by systematically analyzing specificity and sensitivity. Based on the defined cut-off value, the ddPCR assay showed greater sensitivity in detecting M. leprae DNA in PB patients compared with qPCR (79.5% vs 36.4%), while both assays have a 100% sensitivity in MB patients. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: We developed and evaluated a duplex ddPCR assay for leprosy diagnosis in skin biopsy samples from leprosy patients. While still costly, ddPCR might be a promising diagnostic tool for detection of PB leprosy.

Diagnóstico de lepra en niños mediante seguimiento serológico de anticuerpos contra el glicolípido fenólico I / Leprosy diagnosis in children by antibodies serologic follow up against the phenolic glycolipid I

Introducción: Los niños contactos de pacientes con lepra se consideran las personas con mayores posibilidades de desarrollar la enfermedad. Objetivo: Valorar la utilidad del seguimiento serológico de anticuerpos contra el glicolípido fenólico I para el diagnóstico de lepra en niños. Métodos: Investigación prospectiva. Se incluyeron todos los niños contactos de pacientes diagnosticados con lepra en las provincias de La Habana, Santiago de Cuba y Guantánamo entre enero 2013-junio 2015. Los menores se evaluaron clínicamente mediante examen dermatoneurológico y se determinó la presencia de anticuerpos contra el glicolípido fenólico I de Mycobacterium leprae para el estudio serológico. Los niños con serología positiva se siguieron, con estos dos métodos, cada seis meses durante dos años. La confirmación de un caso nuevo de lepra se realizó mediante baciloscopía y biología molecular. Resultados: Se estudiaron 151 niños, de ellos 44 (29,13 por ciento) resultaron positivos al glicolípido fenólico I. Se diagnosticaron durante el período 12 casos, de los cuales 11 tuvieron serología positiva. Presentaron sospecha clínica 10 niños de los estudiados, solo se confirmó un caso nuevo, el cual tuvo serología negativa. En ocho de los niños diagnosticados se detectó presencia de bacilos ácido alcohol resistente en la lámina de baciloscopía. En los restantes cuatro niños el diagnóstico se confirmó por la reacción en cadena de la polimerasa. Conclusiones: Los resultados de esta investigación denotan la utilidad del seguimiento serológico de anticuerpos contra el glicolípido fenólico I en el diagnóstico de lepra en niños, en apoyo a la vigilancia clínica(AU)

Introduction: Children having contact with leprosy patients are considered the contacts with greater possibilities of developing the disease. Objective: To assess the usefulness of antibodies´ serologic follow up against the phenolic glycolipid I (PGL-1) for the diagnosis of leprosy in children. Methods: Prospective study in which were included all children contacts of patients diagnosed with leprosy in Havana, Santiago de Cuba and Guantanamo provinces between January 2013 and June 2015. They were evaluated clinically by the dermato-neurological examination and the presence of antibodies against the PGL-1 of M. leprae was determined. Children with positive serology were followed up using these same two methods every six months for two years. The confirmation of a new case of leprosy was made by smear microscopy and molecular biology / PCR-Rlep. Results: A total of 151 children were studied. Of these, 44 children (29.13 percent) were positive for phenolic glycolipid I. A total of 12 children were diagnosed during this period, of which 11 had positive serology. Only 10 children of the studied ones presented clinical suspicion and of these only one new case was confirmed, which had negative serology. In eight of the diagnosed children, the presence of acid-fast bacilli was detected in the smear microscopy. In the remaining four children, the diagnosis was confirmed by the PCR result. Conclusion: The results of this investigation show the usefulness of the antibodies´ serologic follow up against the phenolic glycolipid I in the diagnosis of leprosy in children as a support to clinical surveillance(AU)

Evaluation of Auramine O staining and conventional PCR for leprosy diagnosis: A comparative cross-sectional study from Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Diagnosis of leprosy mainly relies on clinical examination due to the inconsistent sensitivity and poor reproducibility of the current laboratory tests. Utilisation of alternative methods to the standard Ziehl Neelsen (ZN), Fite-Faraco (FF) and Haematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) staining procedures may eventually improve leprosy diagnosis. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: In this comparative study, the performance of the fluorescent Auramine O (AO) staining and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was assessed with different skin samples using a combination of ZN, FF and H&E staining as the gold standard. AO, ZN, FF, H&E and PCR tests were performed on slit skin smears (SSS) and/or punch biopsies collected from 141 clinically confirmed leprosy cases and 28 non-leprosy skin samples. DNA was extracted from punch biopsies using two different methods with or without mechanical lysis. Sensitivities were 87.6%, 59.3% and 77% for H&E, ZN and FF, respectively, whereas it reached 65.5% and 77.9% for AO in SSS and tissue sections and 91.1% for PCR in tissue samples. Morover, samples with low bacillary index, sensitivity of AO staining (61.8%) was similar to FF (60%, p>0.05) and lower than PCR (86.6%, p<0.05). Sensitivity of PCR also increased (96.8%, p<0.05) when mechanical lysis was used during DNA extraction compared to enzymatic treatment alone (84.6%). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Our results showed that for diagnostic purposes, analysis of skin section is more sensitive than SSS, especially for samples with low bacillary load. AO staining on SSS and tissue sections was not significantly better than other routine diagnostic tests but considerably more user friendly. The sensitivity of PCR was higher than current standard methods and increased when combined with more efficient DNA extraction using mechanical and chemical lysis. Therefore, we recommend AO staining for the diagnosis of leprosy in lower health facilities such as health centres and district hospitals and PCR diagnosis at referral level and research centres.

Lesiones cutáneas hipocrómicas en paciente natural de Brasil / Hypochromic skin lesions in Brazilian patient

No disponible

Laboratory confirmation of Buruli ulcer cases in Ghana, 2008-2016.

BACKGROUND: Buruli ulcer (BU), a necrotizing skin infection caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans is the third most important mycobacterial disease globally after tuberculosis and leprosy in immune competent individuals. This study reports on the retrospective analyses of microbiologically confirmed Buruli ulcer (BU) cases in seventy-five health facilities in Ghana. METHOD/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Pathological samples were collected from BU lesions and transported either through courier services or by car directly to the laboratory. Samples were processed and analysed by IS2404 PCR, culture and Ziehl-Neelsen staining for detection of acid-fast bacilli. From 2008 to 2016, we analysed by PCR, 2,287 samples of 2,203 cases from seventy-five health facilities in seven regions of Ghana (Ashanti, Brong Ahafo, Central, Eastern, Greater Accra, Northern and Volta). The mean annual positivity rate was 46.2% and ranged between 14.6% and 76.2%. The yearly positivity rates from 2008 to 2016 were 52.3%, 76.2%, 56.7%, 53.8%, 41.2%, 41.5%, 22.9%, 28.5% and 14.6% respectively. Of the 1,020 confirmed cases, the ratio of female to male was 518 and 502 respectively. Patients who were 15 years of age and below accounted for 39.8% of all cases. The median age was 20 years (IQR = 10-43). Ulcerative lesions were 69.2%, nodule (9.6%), plaque (2.9%), oedema (2.5%), osteomyelitis (1.1%), ulcer/oedema (9.5%) and ulcer/plaque (5.2%). Lesions frequently occurred on the lower limbs (57%) followed by the upper limbs (38%), the neck and head (3%) and the least found on the abdomen (2%). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Our findings show a decline in microbiological confirmed rates over the years and therefore call for intensive education on case recognition to prevent over-diagnosis as BU cases decline.