@article{30305,
  keywords = {AFB, Skin smear, M leprae RLEP PCR, leprosy},
  author = {Kamal R and Dayal R and Gaidhankar K and Biswas S and Gupta S and Kumar N and Kumar R and Pengoria R and Chauhan D and Katoch K and Katoch V and Singh P},
  title = {RLEP PCR as a Definitive Diagnostic Test for Leprosy from Skin Smear Samples in Childhood and Adolescent Leprosy},
  abstract = {<p>The present study was conducted to evaluate the results of RLEP <em>M leprae </em>PCR using slit skin scraping samples (SSS) &amp; compare the results with routine slit skin smears for AFB. Seventy three cases of both sexes (42 males and 31 females), 4 to 18 years of age (up to 5 years 4; 6-10 years 17; and the rest 52 between 11 to 18 years), clinically diagnosed cases of leprosy with hypopigmented / erythematous lesions associated with partial/total loss of sensation and/or presence of thickened nerves, diagnosed and classified by the criteria of IAL (1982), were included after obtaining their informed written consent. Skin smears from 30 non-leprosy cases of pulmonary tuberculosis, meningitis, skin diseases etc were also tested for <em>M leprae </em>RLEP PCR following the same protocol, after their informed consent and were included as controls. After clinical examination &amp; clinical categorization two skin smears were taken, one for Z-N staining for AFB &amp; another for <em>M leprae </em>RLEP PCR. After DNA extraction &amp; amplification, electrophoresis was done on 2% agarose gel. Presence of 129bp fragment amplicon (RLEP of <em>M leprae</em>) was considered as positive result for the presence of <em>M leprae </em>DNA. Acid fast bacilli (AFB) positivity in smears after ZN staining was observed in 17/73 (cases (23.3%) and RLEP PCR positivity in 56/76 cases (76.71%). All controls showed negative results with <em>M leprae </em>RLEP PCR. The RLEP PCR technique had a significantly greater positivity ie more than three times that of AFB positivity on ZN staining (p&lt; 0.001). The test can be easily performed and is a less invasive technique than biopsy for establishing the definitive diagnosis of leprosy.</p>
},
  year = {2016},
  journal = {Indian journal of leprosy},
  volume = {88},
  pages = {193-197},
  url = {http://www.ijl.org.in/2016/1%20R%20Kamal%20et%20al(193-197).pdf},
  language = {eng},
}