The difference of anti phenolic glycolipid-1 (PGL-1) immunoglobulin-M (IgM) level and nutritional intake in subclinical leprosy patients who reside at home and in the orphanage.

Leprosy patients can be found in the orphanage, and ordinary house holds. The different living conditions in different places might cause differences in the environments, nutritional intake, and immunity, which in the end would affect the transmission of M. leprae. The aim of this study was to find out the difference in anti PGL-1 IgM level and nutritional intake between sub-clinical leprosy patients residing at home with their families and those living in the orphanage. This cross-section observational study was done in Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia. Thirty one sub-clinical leprosy patients living in an orphanage and 30 sub-clinical leprosy patients living at home were included in this study. Venous blood was taken from all of the subjects, the level of anti PGL-1 IgM was measured, and daily nutrient intake was analyzed. Differential test between the 2 groups was performed using independent t-test or Mann Whitney test, when the distribution was not normal. There was significant differences (P < 0.05) in the level of anti PGL-1 IgM, protein, zinc, and vitamin C intake between the 2 groups.

The different levels of interferron gamma capacity production on several stages of leprosy.

Informations concerning imunological activity in subclinical leprosy is still lacking. Therefore, the objective of this study was to find out the prevalence of subclinical leprosy and interferon- (IFN-) production at several stages of leprosy. This observational study using a cross sectional approach was conducted in Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia. Twenty-six leprosy patients and 62 relatives who lived together with the leprosy patients were included in the study. The venous blood samples were taken from all (88) of the subjects. All of the venous blood samples were measured for IFN- levels by Elisa method. Sixty two blood samples from the relatives who lived together with the leprosy patients were measured for IgM anti PGL-1 to determine the subclinical stage of leprosy. Thus, there were three groups in this study: leprosy patients (LP), subclinical leprosy (SL) and sero-negative subjects (SN). Thirty three of the 62 relatives (53.2%) were in subclinical stage of leprosy, while 29 others were not (sero-negative). There was a significant difference (P= 0.001) in IFN- production capacity among the three groups (LP,SL and SN). Among the three groups, the LP group had the lowest, while SL group had the highest IFN- production capacity.