Korean Lepr Bull.  2004 Dec;37(2):19-27.

Prevalence of IgM antibodies to phenolic glycolipid I of Mycobacterium leprae among controls, workers and foreigners in Korea

• Kim JP
• Kim YS
• Cho SN
• Ko YH

Abstract

Phenolic glycolipid I (PGL-I) is a Mycobacterium leprae-specific antigen, and the antibodies to the antigen may suggest an M. leprae infection. To compare the M. leprae infection among the populations, we compared the seropositivity and average O.D. of anti-PGL-I IgM antibodies among controls, workers in the leprosy control program offices and foreigners in Korea, the seropositivity of anti- PGL-I antibodies were 3.7% among controls, 7.8% among workers with occupational exposure and 13.6% among foreigners and the average O.D. of anti-PGL-I antibodies were 0.055 among controls, 0.065 among workers and 0.102 among foreigners. And a slightly difference was noted in the seropositivity rate and average O.D. of anti-PGL-I antibodies between children under 9 years old (0%, 0.029) and persons over 10 years old (1.97-6.38%, 0.046-0.065).

Keyword

PGL-I; seropositivity

MeSH Terms

Antibodies*
Child
Emigrants and Immigrants*
Humans
Immunoglobulin M*
Korea*
Leprosy
Mycobacterium leprae*
Mycobacterium*
Occupational Exposure
Phenol*
Prevalence*
Antibodies
Immunoglobulin M
Phenol