RESUMO
Smears from 74 known smear negative cases of leprosy were examined after staining with Auramine 'O'. 40.54% cases were positive for fluorescent bacilli. 60.52% of cases on treatment and 19.44% cases after RFT had fluorescent bacilli in the skin smears. Results suggest the possibility of a non acid-fast fluorescent positive variant of M. leprae.
Assuntos
Benzofenoneídio , Humanos , Hanseníase/microbiologia , Microscopia de Fluorescência/métodos , Mycobacterium leprae/isolamento & purificação , Pele/microbiologiaRESUMO
An analysis of 200 skin smear results from multibacillary patients showed that the average bacteriological index (BI) of a patient varied considerably from his site-wise highest BI. The average BI was equal to site wise highest BI only in 17.5% of cases and in the rest, it ranged from 99% to as low as 36% of the highest site-wise BI. In follow-up smears, site-wise consistency of the highest BI was found in 96% of cases. It is suggested that for follow-up purposes, repeating smear from only one such site would be adequate.