02168nas a2200385   4500000000100000008004100001260001300042653001500055653001000070653000900080653002200089653002600111653002400137653001000161653002100171653001100192653001600203653001100219653001900230653001200249653000900261653001600270653002500286653003000311653001300341653001600354100001700370245015000387856005100537300001000588490000700598050003200605520113100637022001401768       2008                            d  c2008 Sep10aAdolescent10aAdult10aAged10aAged, 80 and over10aAntibodies, Bacterial10aAntigens, Bacterial10aChild10aChild, Preschool10aFemale10aGlycolipids10aHumans10aLeper Colonies10aleprosy10aMale10aMiddle Aged10aMycobacterium leprae10aSeroepidemiologic Studies10aThailand10aYoung Adult1 aKampirapap K00aAssessment of subclinical leprosy infection through the measurement of PGL-1 antibody levels in residents of a former leprosy colony in Thailand.  uhttps://leprosyreview.org/article/79/3/31-5319  a315-90 v79  aInfolep Library - available3 a<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>  a0305-7518