02242nas a2200277   4500000000100000008004100001260001700042653002600059653002700085653002400112653002200136653001100158653001000169653001200179653001000191653001000201653002500211100002100236700002400257700002200281245019800303300001100501490000700512520143100519022001401950       1998                            d  c1998 Jul-Aug10aAntibodies, Bacterial10aAntibodies, Monoclonal10aAntigens, Bacterial10aFollow-Up Studies10aHumans10aIndia10aleprosy10aLymph10aMucus10aMycobacterium leprae1 aCardona-Castro N1 aOrtega-Rodríguez G1 aAgudelo-Flórez P00aEvaluation of three Mycobacterium leprae monoclonal antibodies in mucus and lymph samples from Ziehl-Neelsen stain negative leprosy patients and their household contacts in an Indian community.  a487-900 v933 a<p>Mucus and lymph smears collected from leprosy patients (9) and their household contacts (44) in the Caño Mochuelo Indian Reservation, Casanare, Colombia, were examined with monoclonal antibodies (MoAb) against Mycobacterium leprae. The individuals studied were: 5 borderline leprosy (BB) patients, 4 with a lepromatous leprosy (LL), all of whom were undergoing epidemiological surveillance after treatment and 44 household contacts: 21 of the LL and 23 contacts of the BB patients. The MoAb were reactive with the following M. leprae antigens: 65 kd heat shock protein, A6; soluble antigen G7 and complete antigen, E11. All the samples were tested with each of the MoAb using the avidin-biotin-peroxidase technique and 3,3 diaminobenzidine as chromogen. The patients and household contacts studied were all recorded as Ziehl-Neelsen stain negative. The MoAb which showed optimal reaction was G7, this MoAb permitted good visualization of the bacilli. Five patients with BB diagnosis and one with LL were positive for G7; of the BB patients' household contacts, 9 were positive for G7; 7 of the LL patients' household contacts were positive for the same MoAb. MoAb G7 allowed the detection of bacillar Mycobacterium spp. compatible structures in both patients and household contacts. G7 permitted the visualization of the complete bacillus and could be used for early diagnosis and follow-up of the disease in patients.</p>  a0074-0276