Nature and familial character of lepromin sensitivity in 27 families and their siblings.

A group of 27 families consisting of 176 individuals had been investigated for the lepromin sensitivity (with Dharmendra antigen). The families were arranged under group A (9 families) in whom either of the parents or both were suffering from Lepromatous type of leprosy, group B numbering 4 families, of whom either of the parents or both were suffering from non-lepromatous type of leprosy and group C comprising 14 families where none of the parents was suffering from leprosy but some of the each family had the disease in their siblings. The present study points towards the possible genetic influence on lepromin sensitivity but at times may be influenced by the environmental factors. However the study does not permit to reach any valid conclusions; further elaborate investigations alone could prove the useful role of genetic influence in the propagation of lepromin sensitivity to the subsequent sibs.