Mycobacterium leprae particle agglutination in diagnosis and monitoring of treatment of leprosy

Abstract

IgM antibody levels against PGL-1 antigen were measured by M. leprae particle agglutination (MLPA) in 156 untreated leprosy patients. The seropositivity rate was much higher in newly untreated MB patients (84.7%) than in PB patients (19.7%). The mean MLPA titers in MB and PB declined significantly after 1 month of MDT (p < 0.001). Seropositivities in control serum specimens were 11.3 per cent in active pulmonary tuberculosis patients, 2.6 per cent in dermatologic patients and 4.4 per cent in a healthy population, in low titers. The study confirms that, anti PGL-1 assay using MLPA is a sensitive and specific diagnostic tool for the diagnosis of leprosy especially MB patients. Additionally, it provides an alternative tool in monitoring leprosy patients under MDT.