Ann Dermatol.  1994 Jul;6(2):130-135. 10.5021/ad.1994.6.2.130.

Detection of Mycobacterium leprae in Tissue and Blood by Polymerase Chain Reaction

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Methods to detect and quanitify Mycobacterium leprae(M. leprae)are needed for studies involving the epidemiology, pathogenesis, and chemotherapy of leprosy. Serological assays and skin tests lack the sensitivity and specificity to serve as diagnostic tool for M. leprae infection. The polymerase chain reaction(PCR) based on the selective amplification of an 530-bp frangment of the gene encoding the proline-rich antigen of M. leprae was performed with sections of fixed or frozen biopsy samples from leprosy patients.
OBJECTIVE
This study was done to investigate the applicability of PCR for the detection of low numbers of M. leprae in tissues and peripheral blood.
METHODS
The PCR was used to amplify a 530-base-pair M. leprae DNA with the thermoxtable Taq DNA polymerase.
RESULTS
The In frozen skin tissues and peripheral blood of leprosy patients. relatively high detection rates of PCR products was achieved by using direct gel analysis as well as Southern blot hybridization.
CONCLUSION
These results suggest that PCR amplification for the detection of M. leprae may be useful for the epidemiologic study of large papulations as well as coinical astudies on the individual patients.

Keyword

Blood; Leprosy; PCR

MeSH Terms

Biopsy
Blotting, Southern
DNA
Drug Therapy
Epidemiologic Studies
Epidemiology
Humans
Leprosy
Mycobacterium leprae*
Mycobacterium*
Polymerase Chain Reaction*
Sensitivity and Specificity
Skin
Skin Tests
Taq Polymerase
DNA
Taq Polymerase
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