Earlier studies from our laboratory reported that a radiometric Mycobacterium leprae resident macrophage assay was a useful in vitro indicator of bacillary viability with good correlation with the established mouse foot pad model. The present study compares our assay with the recently described fluorescein diacetate/ethidium bromide (FDA/EB) method. M. leprae extracted from the dermal lesions of 73 bacilliferous leprosy patients were tested concurrently by both techniques. Good correlation (r = 0.52, p less than 0.001) was found between the radiometric assay evaluating DNA synthesis and the FDA/EB staining reflecting the presence of active esterase enzyme. In addition, the utility of the FDA/EB staining in the monitoring of therapy was established. Twenty-two patients treated for greater than 1 year showed lower numbers of green fluorescing bacilli when compared to 19 untreated or short-term-treated individuals.
BT - International journal of leprosy and other mycobacterial diseases : official organ of the International Leprosy Association C1 - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2439621?dopt=Abstract DA - 1987 Jun IS - 2 J2 - Int. J. Lepr. Other Mycobact. Dis. LA - eng N2 -Earlier studies from our laboratory reported that a radiometric Mycobacterium leprae resident macrophage assay was a useful in vitro indicator of bacillary viability with good correlation with the established mouse foot pad model. The present study compares our assay with the recently described fluorescein diacetate/ethidium bromide (FDA/EB) method. M. leprae extracted from the dermal lesions of 73 bacilliferous leprosy patients were tested concurrently by both techniques. Good correlation (r = 0.52, p less than 0.001) was found between the radiometric assay evaluating DNA synthesis and the FDA/EB staining reflecting the presence of active esterase enzyme. In addition, the utility of the FDA/EB staining in the monitoring of therapy was established. Twenty-two patients treated for greater than 1 year showed lower numbers of green fluorescing bacilli when compared to 19 untreated or short-term-treated individuals.
PY - 1987 SP - 316 EP - 21 T2 - International journal of leprosy and other mycobacterial diseases : official organ of the International Leprosy Association TI - Comparison of radiometric macrophage assay and fluorescein diacetate/ethidium bromide staining for evaluation of M. leprae viability. VL - 55 SN - 0148-916X ER -