@article{17567,
  keywords = {Base Sequence, DNA Probes, DNA, Bacterial, Electrophoresis, Agar Gel, False Negative Reactions, Genes, Bacterial, Humans, Leprostatic Agents, leprosy, Molecular Sequence Data, Mycobacterium leprae, polymerase chain reaction, Predictive Value of Tests, Sensitivity and Specificity, Skin},
  author = {Misra N and Ramesh V and Misra R S and Narayan N P and Colston M J and Nath I},
  title = {Clinical utility of LSR/A15 gene for Mycobacterium leprae detection in leprosy tissues using the polymerase chain reaction.},
  abstract = {<p>Skin biopsy and slit-skin smears from 46 leprosy patients and 4 nonleprosy patients were tested for the presence of Mycobacterium leprae by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using primers based on the sequence of the LSR/15 kD gene. The PCR was found to be specific and sensitive, with a detection level of 10 and 100 bacilli. PCR using skin biopsies gave a higher detection rate than did slit-skin smears, probably due to the higher density of bacilli in a 4-mm punch biopsy. Dot blot hybridization with radioactive probes was 10-fold more sensitive than the ethidium bromide staining. Eight patients who did not show acid-fast bacilli in tissues by the conventional methods were shown to have PCR-amplified M. leprae DNA. False-negative results were obtained in 3 cases even though formal evidence for tissue inhibitors was absent.</p>
},
  year = {1995},
  journal = {International journal of leprosy and other mycobacterial diseases : official organ of the International Leprosy Association},
  volume = {63},
  pages = {35-41},
  month = {1995 Mar},
  issn = {0148-916X},
  url = {http://ila.ilsl.br/pdfs/v63n1a06.pdf},
  language = {eng},
}