Could Mycobacterium leprae Infection Be an Occupational Disease? A Survey in Healthcare Workers From an Endemic Area in the Amazonian Region

2015 ◽  
Vol 36 (12) ◽  
pp. 1464-1466
Author(s):  
Sara Eleny Pacheco ◽  
Samira Bührer-Sékula ◽  
Rodrigo Scaliante de Moura ◽  
Mariane Martins Stefani ◽  
Maria Leide W. Oliveira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Disease ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Associated Factors ◽  
Endemic Area ◽  
Mycobacterium Leprae ◽  
Immunoglobulin M ◽  
Infect Control Hosp ◽  
Leprosy Patients ◽  
Serologic Survey ◽  
Amazonian Region

A serologic survey was conducted to evaluate the prevalence of Mycobacterium leprae infection among healthcare workers and associated factors. Of 280 workers, 26 (9.3%) were positive using immunoglobulin M serology for PGL-I M. leprae antigen. Exposure to leprosy patients in the workplace was significantly associated with seropositivity (P=.044).Infect. Control Hosp. Epidemiol. 2015;36(12):1464–1466

scholarly journals TTC Repeats Variation of Mycobacterium leprae Isolates for Analysis of Leprosy Transmission in Leprosy Endemic Area in East Java, INDONESIA

2010 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dinar Adriaty ◽  
Ratna Wahyuni ◽  
Iswahyudi Iswahyudi ◽  
Indropo Agusni ◽  
Shinzo Izumi
Keyword(s):  
Water Resources ◽  
Molecular Typing ◽  
Endemic Area ◽  
Nasal Swab ◽  
Direct Sequencing ◽  
Mycobacterium Leprae ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Nasal Swabs ◽  
Leprosy Patients ◽  
Pattern Distribution

East Java province still has some pocket of leprosy endemic areas. In order to solve the problem, molecular typing will make it feasible to study the transmission pattern of Mycobacterium leprae in leprosy endemic area. The present study is to analyze the presence of M.leprae DNA in the environment and to study variation number of TTC repeats and their distribution. Poteran Island is located in Madura, East Java and was chosen because this island has a high prevalence of leprosy and remains stable for the last five years. All samples were analyzed by PCR and the numbers of TTC repeats were confirmed by direct sequencing. Of all collected samples, 26.4% isolates of water resources (24); 61.9% nasal swabs (26); and 35.3% skin tissues (24) are positives. No statistically difference in the pattern distribution of TTC repeats between skin tissues of patients and nasal swab of households contact (p=0.594); also distribution of TTC repeats between skin tissues of leprosy patients and those of water resources (p=0.441); and distribution of TTC repeats between nasal swab of households contact with water resources (p=0.906). It means that the transmission of M.leprae in leprosy endemic area has closely related in 3 aspects: agent, host & environment.

scholarly journals Postgenomic Approach To Identify Novel Mycobacterium leprae Antigens with Potential To Improve Immunodiagnosis of Infection

2005 ◽  
Vol 73 (9) ◽  
pp. 5636-5644 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annemieke Geluk ◽  
Michèl R. Klein ◽  
Kees L. M. C. Franken ◽  
Krista E. van Meijgaarden ◽  
Brigitte Wieles ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mrna Level ◽  
Mycobacterium Leprae ◽  
Immunoglobulin M ◽  
Diagnostic Tools ◽  
Comparative Genomic ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Mycobacterial Genome ◽  
Genomic Analyses ◽  
Leprosy Patients ◽  
Multibacillary Leprosy

ABSTRACT Early detection of Mycobacterium leprae infection is considered an important component of strategies aiming at reducing transmission of infection, but currently available diagnostic tools often lack sufficient sensitivity and specificity to reach this goal. Recent comparative genomics have revealed the presence of 165 M. leprae genes with no homologue in M. tuberculosis. We selected 17 of these genes for further study. All 17 genes were found to be expressed at the mRNA level in M. leprae from infected mice and from a multibacillary leprosy patient. Additional comparative genomic analyses of all currently available mycobacterial genome databases confirmed 12 candidate genes to be unique to M. leprae, whereas 5 genes had homologues in mycobacteria other than M. tuberculosis. Evaluation of the immunogenicity of all 17 recombinant proteins in PBMC from 127 Brazilians showed that five antigens (ML0576, ML1989, ML1990, ML2283, and ML2567) induced significant gamma interferon levels in paucibacillary leprosy patients, reactional leprosy patients, and exposed healthy controls but not in most multibacillary leprosy patients, tuberculosis patients, or endemic controls. Importantly, among exposed healthy controls 71% had no detectable immunoglobulin M antibodies to the M. leprae-specific PGL-I but responded to one or more M. leprae antigen(s). Collectively, the M. leprae proteins identified are expressed at the transcriptome level and can efficiently activate T cells of M. leprae-exposed individuals. These proteins may provide new tools to develop tests for specific diagnosis of M. leprae infection and may enhance our understanding of leprosy and its transmission.

scholarly journals Mycobacterium leprae in Daily Water Resources of Inhabitants Who Live in Leprosy Endemic Area of East Java

2010 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 65 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ratna Wahyuni ◽  
Dinar Adriaty ◽  
Iswahyudi Iswahyudi ◽  
Cita Rosita S. Prakoeswa ◽  
Indropo Agusni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Samples ◽  
Endemic Area ◽  
Mycobacterium Leprae ◽  
Multidrug Therapy ◽  
Chain Reaction ◽  
Daily Life Activities ◽  
Leprosy Patients ◽  
Daily Water ◽  
Pcr Method ◽  
Polymerase Chain

Leprosy still a health problem in Indonesia, where many leprosy pocket areas still persists, especially in the eastern part of the country. Although the program of WHO – Multidrug Therapy (MDT) regiment has been conducted elsewhere since 1980s, only the prevalence can be reduced but not the incidence of new leprosy cases. Theoretically after the source of leprosy (the infectious leprosy cases) has been treated, no more transmission of the disease and should be no more new leprosy cases will be found. To explain this phenomenon, the non-human resource of M.leprae became a new topic of debates, especially the existence of bacteria in the environment. A field study of the existence of M.leprae in the environment of leprosy endemic area had been conducted in a leprosy endemic area of the northern part of East Java. The aim of the study is to find any correlation of the existence of these bacteria in the environment with the presence of leprosy patients who live in that area, in order to study its role in the transmission of the disease. Ninety water samples from wells in the house of inhabitants who live in one endemic sub district were collected. The owner of the well was interviewed whether any leprosy patients who routinely use the water for their daily life activities. Water samples were examined by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) method to detect M.leprae DNA, using the LpF-LpR and Lp3-Lp4 nested primers (99bp). The PCR results showed positive band for M.leprae in 22 out of 90 (24%) water samples. Water samples from wells that used by leprosy patients showed positive PCR in 11/48 (23%), while 11 out of 42 (26%) water samples from wells that never been used by leprosy cases showed positive result. Statistically there was no difference (p>0.05) in the positivity of M.leprae between the two groups. It was concluded that the existence of M.leprae in the daily water resource was not correlated with the present of leprosy cases in the area. Possible symbiosis between protozoan and mycobacterium in the environment were discussed.

Recent Advancement in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Leprosy

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (18) ◽  
pp. 1550-1558
Author(s):  
Muhammad Aamir ◽  
Asma Sadaf ◽  
Sehroon Khan ◽  
Shagufta Perveen ◽  
Afsar Khan
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin D ◽  
Drug Treatment ◽  
Mycobacterium Leprae ◽  
Neglected Diseases ◽  
Specific Drug ◽  
Genetic Studies ◽  
Vitamin D Receptors ◽  
Micro Rnas ◽  
Leprosy Patients ◽  
Skin Biopsies

Background: Many of the tropical diseases are neglected by the researchers and medicinal companies due to lack of profit and other interests. The Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) is established to overcome the problems associated with these neglected diseases. According to a report published by the WHO, leprosy (Hansen's disease) is also a neglected infectious disease. Methods: A negligible amount of advancements has been made in last few decades which includes the tools of diagnosis, causes, treatment, and genetic studies of the bacterium (Mycobacterium leprae) that causes leprosy. The diagnosis of leprosy at earlier stages is important for its effective treatment. Recent studies on vitamin D and its receptors make leprosy diagnosis easier at earlier stages. Skin biopsies and qPCR are the other tools to identify the disease at its initial stages. Results: Until now a specific drug for the treatment of leprosy is not available, therefore, Multi-Drug Therapy (MDT) is used, which is hazardous to health. Besides Mycobacterium leprae, recently a new bacterium Mycobacterium lepromatosis was also identified as a cause of leprosy. During the last few years the genetic studies of Mycobacterium leprae, the role of vitamin D and vitamin D receptors (VDR), and the skin biopsies made the treatment and diagnosis of leprosy easier at early stages. The studies of micro RNAs (miRNAs) made it easy to differentiate leprosy from other diseases especially from tuberculosis. Conclusion: Leprosy can be distinguished from sarcoidosis by quantitative study of reticulin fibers present in skin. The treatment used until now for leprosy is multi-drug treatment. The complete genome identification of Mycobacterium leprae makes the research easy to develop target specified drugs for leprosy. Rifampicin, identified as a potent drug, along with other drugs in uniform multi-drug treatment, has a significant effect when given to leprosy patients at initial stages. These are effective treatments but a specific drug for leprosy is still needed to be identified. The current review highlights the use of modern methods for the identification of leprosy at its earlier stages and the effective use of drugs alone as well as in combination.

scholarly journals Analysis of a Routinely Used Commercial Anti-Chikungunya IgM ELISA Reveals Cross-Reactivities with Dengue in Brazil: A New Challenge for Differential Diagnosis?

Diagnostics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 819
Author(s):  
Monique da Rocha Queiroz Lima ◽  
Raquel Curtinhas de Lima ◽  
Elzinandes Leal de Azeredo ◽  
Flavia Barreto dos Santos
Keyword(s):  
Disease Surveillance ◽  
Endemic Area ◽  
Chikungunya Virus ◽  
Elisa Test ◽  
Cross Reactivity ◽  
Immunoglobulin M ◽  
Diagnostic Tools ◽  
Healthy Individuals ◽  
Denv Serotypes ◽  
Igm Elisa

In Brazil, chikungunya emerged in 2014, and by 2016, co-circulated with other arbovirosis, such as dengue and zika. ELISAs (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assays) are the most widely used approach for arboviruses diagnosis. However, some limitations include antibody cross reactivities when viruses belong to the same genus, and sensitivity variations in distinct epidemiological scenarios. As chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is an alphavirus, no serological cross reactivity with dengue virus (DENV) should be observed. Here, we evaluated a routinely used chikungunya commercial IgM (Immunoglobulin M) ELISA test (Anti-Chikungunya IgM ELISA, Euroimmun) to assess its performance in confirming chikungunya in a dengue endemic area. Samples (n = 340) representative of all four DENV serotypes, healthy individuals and controls were tested. The Anti-CHIKV IgM ELISA test had a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 25.3% due to the cross reactivities observed with dengue. In dengue acute cases, the chikungunya test showed an overall cross-reactivity of 31.6%, with a higher cross-reactivity with DENV-4. In dengue IgM positive cases, the assay showed a cross-reactivity of 46.7%. Serological diagnosis may be challenging and, despite the results observed here, more evaluations shall be performed. Because distinct arboviruses co-circulate in Brazil, reliable diagnostic tools are essential for disease surveillance and patient management.

scholarly journals Recombinant polypeptide of Mycobacterium leprae as a potential tool for serological detection of leprosy

AMB Express ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcelo dos Santos Barbosa ◽  
Iara Beatriz Andrade de Sousa ◽  
Simone Simionatto ◽  
Sibele Borsuk ◽  
Silvana Beutinger Marchioro
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Mycobacterium Leprae ◽  
Detection Methods ◽  
Recombinant Polypeptide ◽  
Cell Reactivity ◽  
Tertiary Structures ◽  
Leprosy Patients ◽  
T Cell Reactivity ◽  
Prevention Methods ◽  
Scale Detection

AbstractCurrent prevention methods for the transmission of Mycobacterium leprae, the causative agent of leprosy, are inadequate as suggested by the rate of new leprosy cases reported. Simple large-scale detection methods for M. leprae infection are crucial for early detection of leprosy and disease control. The present study investigates the production and seroreactivity of a recombinant polypeptide composed of various M. leprae protein epitopes. The structural and physicochemical parameters of this construction were assessed using in silico tools. Parameters like subcellular localization, presence of signal peptide, primary, secondary, and tertiary structures, and 3D model were ascertained using several bioinformatics tools. The resultant purified recombinant polypeptide, designated rMLP15, is composed of 15 peptides from six selected M. leprae proteins (ML1358, ML2055, ML0885, ML1811, ML1812, and ML1214) that induce T cell reactivity in leprosy patients from different hyperendemic regions. Using rMLP15 as the antigen, sera from 24 positive patients and 14 healthy controls were evaluated for reactivity via ELISA. ELISA-rMLP15 was able to diagnose 79.17% of leprosy patients with a specificity of 92.86%. rMLP15 was also able to detect the multibacillary and paucibacillary patients in the same proportions, a desirable addition in the leprosy diagnosis. These results summarily indicate the utility of the recombinant protein rMLP15 in the diagnosis of leprosy and the future development of a viable screening test.

scholarly journals Compliance with Standard Precautions and Associated Factors among Healthcare Workers in Gondar University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tariku Gebre Haile ◽  
Eshetu Haileselassie Engeda ◽  
Abdella Amano Abdo
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Associated Factors ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Simple Random Sampling ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Northwest Ethiopia ◽  
Management Support ◽  
Standard Precautions ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Specialized Hospital

Background. In many studies, compliance with standard precautions among healthcare workers was reported to be inadequate.Objective.The aim of this study was to assess compliance with standard precautions and associated factors among healthcare workers in northwest Ethiopia.Methods.An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from March 01 to April 30, 2014. Simple random sampling technique was used to select participants. Data were entered into Epi info 3.5.1 and were exported to SPSS version 20.0 for statistical analysis. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were computed and adjusted odds ratio with 95% confidence interval was calculated to identify associated factors.Results.The proportion of healthcare workers who always comply with standard precautions was found to be 12%. Being a female healthcare worker (AOR [95% CI] 2.18 [1.12–4.23]), higher infection risk perception (AOR [95% CI] 3.46 [1.67–7.18]), training on standard precautions (AOR [95% CI] 2.90 [1.20–7.02]), accessibility of personal protective equipment (AOR [95% CI] 2.87 [1.41–5.86]), and management support (AOR [95% CI] 2.23 [1.11–4.53]) were found to be statistically significant.Conclusion and Recommendation.Compliance with standard precautions among the healthcare workers is very low. Interventions which include training of healthcare workers on standard precautions and consistent management support are recommended.

scholarly journals Genotyping of Mycobacterium leprae present on Ziehl-Neelsen-stained microscopic slides and in skin biopsy samples from leprosy patients in different geographic regions of Brazil

2012 ◽  
Vol 107 (suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 143-149 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda Nogueira Brum Fontes ◽  
Harrison Magdinier Gomes ◽  
Marcelo Ivens de Araujo ◽  
Edson Cláudio Araripe de Albuquerque ◽  
Ida Maria Foschiani Dias Baptista ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Skin Biopsy ◽  
Mycobacterium Leprae ◽  
Leprosy Patients ◽  
Geographic Regions
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