00956nas a2200181   4500000000100000008004100001653001200042653001600054653001200070653001400082100001300096700001300109245012700122856007500249300001200324490000600336520043200342       2011                            d10aleprosy10aSkin smears10aRelapse10adiagnosis1 aNaik V B1 aNaik U B00aEvaluation of significance of skin smears in leprosy for diagnosis, follow-up, assessment of treatment outcome and relapse  uhttp://www.pacificjournals.com/ajbor/pdf/06-2011/Naik%20et%20al_10.pdf  a547-5520 v23 aLeprosy is a chronic bacterial disease of man caused by Mycobacterium leprae involving primarily the skin, peripheral nerves and nasal mucosa and if not diagnosed & treated early causes deformities in eyes, hands & feet. The bacteriological examination in leprosy is an effective tool to diagnose the cases and their consequences, monitoring their prognosis and identifying possible cases of relapse for further investigations.