Detection of subclinical infection in leprosy: an 8 years follow-up study.
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1989-10-01
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Abstract
A follow-up study has been carried out using Fluorescent Leprosy Antibody Absorption (FLA-ABS) test in 1069 healthy contacts of multi and pauci-bacillary leprosy patients. Simultaneously lepromin testing with Dharmendra antigen has also been done to determine their delayed type hypersensitivity. In nearly 8 years of follow-up, 46 contacts have developed disease and of these 41 contacts were FLA-ABS positive and lepromin negative. It is inferred that test (along with lepromin) can be used to identify the contacts who are at higher risk of developing the disease. FLA-ABS test has also been found to be highly sensitive for detection of subclinical infection specially in younger age groups. This test could therefore serve as a very sensitive epidemiological tool for assessing the extent of disease in the community and for monitoring the transmission of disease especially after MDT and other intervention measures.
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Bharadwaj VP, Katoch K. Detection of subclinical infection in leprosy: an 8 years follow-up study. Indian Journal of Leprosy. 1989 Oct; 61(4): 495-502