@article{1029,
  keywords = {Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Antibodies, Bacterial, Antigens, Bacterial, Child, Child, Preschool, Female, Glycolipids, Humans, Leper Colonies, leprosy, Male, Middle Aged, Mycobacterium leprae, Seroepidemiologic Studies, Thailand, Young Adult},
  author = {Kampirapap K},
  title = {Assessment of subclinical leprosy infection through the measurement of PGL-1 antibody levels in residents of a former leprosy colony in Thailand.},
  abstract = {<p><b>OBJECTIVES: </b>To investigate the hypothesis that there is continuing subclinical M. leprae infection, contributing to ongoing transmission of leprosy in Phra-Pradaeng Colony.</p><p><b>DESIGN: </b>A sero-epidemiological survey was carried out in Phra-Pradaeng Colony, Thailand between May and August 2005. The clinical and serological examinations were conducted in 398 people, aged 3-84 years (average 50 years), comprising 196 males and 202 females.</p><p><b>RESULTS: </b>Measurement of serum anti PGL-I antibodies in eligible contacts and ex-patients showed that 18 people (4.5%) were seropositive, six people (1.5%) were strongly positive and 374 people (94.0%) were seronegative. All six people who were strongly seropositive were ex-patients; five of them had no evidence of active leprosy but the sixth person had relapsed BL leprosy with a reversal reaction.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS: </b>This study failed to confirm the hypothesis that there was ongoing subclinical M. leprae infection. More appropriate diagnostic methods and a total survey of the colony should be considered to further clarify this problem.</p>},
  year = {2008},
  journal = {Leprosy review},
  volume = {79},
  pages = {315-9},
  month = {2008 Sep},
  issn = {0305-7518},
  url = {https://leprosyreview.org/article/79/3/31-5319},
  language = {eng},
}