OBJECTIVES: To investigate the hypothesis that there is continuing subclinical M. leprae infection, contributing to ongoing transmission of leprosy in Phra-Pradaeng Colony.
DESIGN: 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.
RESULTS: 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.
CONCLUSIONS: 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.
BT - Leprosy review C1 - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19009981?dopt=Abstract CN - Infolep Library - available DA - 2008 Sep IS - 3 J2 - Lepr Rev LA - eng N2 -OBJECTIVES: To investigate the hypothesis that there is continuing subclinical M. leprae infection, contributing to ongoing transmission of leprosy in Phra-Pradaeng Colony.
DESIGN: 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.
RESULTS: 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.
CONCLUSIONS: 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.
PY - 2008 SP - 315 EP - 9 T2 - Leprosy review TI - Assessment of subclinical leprosy infection through the measurement of PGL-1 antibody levels in residents of a former leprosy colony in Thailand. UR - https://leprosyreview.org/article/79/3/31-5319 VL - 79 SN - 0305-7518 ER -