title: Detection of M. leprae-specific antigens with dot-ELISA in urine and nasal samples from leprosy patients.
abstract: One-hundred-two urine and nasal samples collected from leprosy patients of different classifications of disease were studied for the presence of Mycobacterium leprae antigens, including phenolic glycolipid-I (PGL-I). Lipids were extracted from the urine samples, and nasal washings were concentrated and used as such in the dot-ELISA. Two types of primary antibodies, a polyclonal antibody obtained from lepromatous (LL) leprosy patients' pooled and absorbed sera and an anti-PGL-I monoclonal antibody, were used for the detection of M. leprae antigens from these samples. The polyclonal sera detected 23% to 36% of the paucibacillary (PB) and 100% of the multibacillary (MB) leprosy cases from the urine samples. Corresponding values for nasal detection were 10% to 18% for PB and 100% for MB cases. The monoclonal antibody against PGL-I could not detect tuberculoid (TT) leprosy cases. From the urine samples, however, 16% of the borderline tuberculoid (BT), 25% of the borderline (BB), 80% of the borderline lepromatous (BL), and 100% of the LL leprosy cases were detectable. It was interesting to note that PB, skin-smear negative cases were detectable from urine examination. The specificity and sensitivity of the test is discussed in relation to the crossreacting antigens.
authors.affiliation: Division of Microbiology, Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, India.
authors.forename: N B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Choudhary
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bhatnagar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis* / Q000652:urine; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007918:Leprosy / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000652:urine; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009166:Mycobacterium leprae / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000382:microbiology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial