TY - JOUR KW - Base Sequence KW - DNA Probes KW - DNA, Bacterial KW - Electrophoresis, Agar Gel KW - False Negative Reactions KW - Genes, Bacterial KW - Humans KW - Leprostatic Agents KW - leprosy KW - Molecular Sequence Data KW - Mycobacterium leprae KW - polymerase chain reaction KW - Predictive Value of Tests KW - Sensitivity and Specificity KW - Skin AU - Misra N AU - Ramesh V AU - Misra R S AU - Narayan N P AU - Colston M J AU - Nath I AB -

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.

BT - International journal of leprosy and other mycobacterial diseases : official organ of the International Leprosy Association C1 -

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7730717?dopt=Abstract

DA - 1995 Mar IS - 1 J2 - Int. J. Lepr. Other Mycobact. Dis. LA - eng N2 -

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.

PY - 1995 SP - 35 EP - 41 T2 - International journal of leprosy and other mycobacterial diseases : official organ of the International Leprosy Association TI - Clinical utility of LSR/A15 gene for Mycobacterium leprae detection in leprosy tissues using the polymerase chain reaction. UR - http://ila.ilsl.br/pdfs/v63n1a06.pdf VL - 63 SN - 0148-916X ER -