RESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a priority for surveillance in bacterial infections. For leprosy, AMR has not been assessed because Mycobacterium leprae does not grow in vitro. We aim to obtain AMR data using molecular detection of resistance genes and to conduct a prospective open survey of resistance to antileprosy drugs in countries where leprosy is endemic through a WHO surveillance network. METHODS: From 2009 to 2015, multi-bacillary leprosy cases at sentinel sites of 19 countries were studied for resistance to rifampicin, dapsone and ofloxacin by PCR sequencing of the drug-resistance-determining regions of the genes rpoB, folP1 and gyrA. RESULTS: Among 1932 (1143 relapse and 789 new) cases studied, 154 (8.0%) M. leprae strains were found with mutations conferring resistance showing 182 resistance traits (74 for rifampicin, 87 for dapsone and 21 for ofloxacin). Twenty cases showed rifampicin and dapsone resistance, four showed ofloxacin and dapsone resistance, but no cases were resistant to rifampicin and ofloxacin. Rifampicin resistance was observed among relapse (58/1143, 5.1%) and new (16/789, 2.0%) cases in 12 countries. India, Brazil and Colombia reported more than five rifampicin-resistant cases. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study reporting global data on AMR in leprosy. Rifampicin resistance emerged, stressing the need for expansion of surveillance. This is also a call for vigilance on the global use of antimicrobial agents, because ofloxacin resistance probably developed in relation to the general intake of antibiotics for other infections as it is not part of the multidrug combination used to treat leprosy.
Asunto(s)
Antibacterianos/uso terapéutico , Farmacorresistencia Bacteriana/genética , Lepra/epidemiología , Mycobacterium leprae/efectos de los fármacos , Mycobacterium leprae/genética , Antibacterianos/efectos adversos , Proteínas Bacterianas/genética , Biopsia con Aguja , Brasil/epidemiología , Colombia/epidemiología , Girasa de ADN/genética , Dapsona/uso terapéutico , Enfermedades Endémicas/estadística & datos numéricos , Monitoreo Epidemiológico , Salud Global , Humanos , India/epidemiología , Lepra/diagnóstico , Lepra/tratamiento farmacológico , Lepra/microbiología , Pruebas de Sensibilidad Microbiana , Mutación , Ofloxacino/uso terapéutico , Reacción en Cadena de la Polimerasa , Estudios Prospectivos , Recurrencia , Rifampin/uso terapéutico , Vigilancia de Guardia , Piel/microbiología , Piel/patología , Encuestas y Cuestionarios , Organización Mundial de la SaludRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To use DNA detection methodologies to test for M. leprae in nine-banded armadillos inhabiting forested regions located around the cities and towns where leprosy patients have been identified. DESIGN: Ear lobe biopsies of 22 nine-banded armadillos were studied during a 2 year period. The biopsies were processed for DNA extraction and amplification by nested polymerase chain reaction (N-PCR) of a fragment of the high copy DNA locus of M. leprae known as R-LEP. RESULTS: Nine of the 22 (40.9%) armadillos evaluated showed positive signals for M. leprae. Sequencing confirmed that PCR products were identical to the corresponding region of M. leprae DNA. CONCLUSIONS: In Colombia, South America, the consumption of and contact with the nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) are common, ignoring the fact that this animal can host and be a possible zoonotic reservoir of Mycobacterium leprae, the causal agent of leprosy. This is the first study demonstrating that M. leprae is present in nine-banded armadillos in a region of Colombia using specific DNA detection. The possibility of leprosy transmission due to contact and consumption of armadillo meat or use of blood for therapeutic purposes should be further investigated.