Utility of gelatin particle agglutination test (MLPA) for rapid serodiagnosis of leprosy in a hyperendemic area.

The anti-PGL M. leprae specific antibodies were estimated by MLPA test in 79 patients of leprosy, 8 contacts of lepromatous cases and 10 healthy controls in a hyperendemic area. The results indicated an over all seropositivity of 50.6% in leprosy patients. Three of the eight contacts and five of the controls also gave positive results. Higher seropositivity rates were noted in multibacillary patients (73% in lepromatous, 53.6% in borderline, 40% each in tuberculoid and indeterminate and 10% in pure neuritic types). The practical application of MLPA test in its present form as a serodiagnostic procedure for screening subclinical or clinical infections in leprosy patients appear to be of limited value in hyperendemic areas. Further studies involving large series of subjects are necessary for reaching definite conclusions.

Evaluation of standard Dharmendra lepromin.

Dharmendra lepromin standardized at Central JALMA Institute for Leprosy (CJIL) by bacterial counts was used by different observers in four different Centres to assess the early and late reactions. Patients taken into the study were from different ethnic groups in different regions of the country. Comparable skin reactions were found at the Bombay Leprosy Project (BLP), Bombay and at the CJIL, Agra wherein a large number of patients were taken in the study. Similarly, when a smaller number of patients were taken in the study at the Base Hospital (BH), Barrackpore, and at the Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Pondicherry, the skin reactions noted in patients at these Centres were again found to be statistically comparable.