02120nas a2200241   4500000000100000008004100001653002500042653002500067653001200092653001400104653001100118100001500129700001300144700001400157700001500171700001600186245017800202856007300380300001200453490000700465050001700472520138900489       2013                            d10aPrevention & control10aMycobacterium leprae10aleprosy10adiagnosis10aBrazil1 aLimeira OM1 aGomes CM1 aMorais OO1 aCesetti MV1 aAlvarez RRA00aActive search for leprosy cases in Midwestern Brazil: a serological evaluation of asymptomatic household contacts before and after prophylaxis with bacillus Calmette-Guérin  uhttp://www.scielo.br/pdf/rimtsp/v55n3/0036-4665-rimtsp-55-03-173.pdf  a173-1770 v55  aLIMEIRA 20133 aLeprosy is a disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae that carries a high risk of disability, making early diagnosis mandatory. This study aimed to determine the applicability of anti-PGL-1 IgM antibody detection, using the ML FLOW technique, as an assistant tool for the detection of leprosy infection in asymptomatic household contacts (AHHC) of multibacillary leprosy index cases from Midwest Brazil. Serological changes induced by the prophylaxis of these household contacts with Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) were also verified. A total of 91 AHHC were assessed, among which, 18.68% (n = 17) presented both positive bacilloscopy and positive anti-PGL-1 IgM serology. Positivity concordance between these two laboratorial exams (Kappa Index = 1; p < 0.001) was indicated, however, one case did not demonstrate concordance between the semiquantitative assessment of anti-PGL-1 IgM and the bacilloscopy index (Kappa Index = 0.96; p < 0.001). Among the 17 AHHC with positive bacilloscopy, eight were reassessed after prophylaxis with BCG and two of them presented negative anti-PGL-1 IgM serology, being these patients who had presented a bacilloscopy index of < 2[+] in the initial assessment. This study shows that anti-PGL-1 IgM detection may be used as a tool to determine the bacillary load in AHHC and to detect immune changes related to prophylaxis by nonspecific vaccination.