Non acid-fast fluorescent M. leprae (?) in skin smears from leprosy patients.

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.