01293nas a2200229   4500000000100000008004100001260003800042653000800080653002100088653001400109653002500123653003100148653001600179100001300195700001200208700001500220700001300235245011400248300001000362520067300372020001801045       2023                            d  bSpringer International Publishing10aPCR10aCharacterization10aMolecular10aMycobacterium leprae10aMycobacterium lepromatosis10aDiagnostics1 aBraet SM1 aRosa PS1 aSpencer JS1 aAvanzi C00aLeprosy Agents and Principal Methods of Detection, Identification, and Characterization of the Leprosy Agents  a45-573 a<p>Diagnosis of leprosy is mainly based on the identification of the clinical signs of the disease. Our incapacity to culture the leprosy bacilli&nbsp;<em>in&nbsp;vitro</em>&nbsp;made the steps toward the diagnosis confirmation using laboratory tools difficult, especially in countries where leprosy is not endemic. This chapter aims to provide an overview of the existing laboratory methods to assist clinical diagnosis, their strength, and limitations, based on different applications and various sample types from diagnosis to drug susceptibility. It also aims to list some of the reference literature from the field to guide new investigators and clinicians.</p>
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