title: A colorimetric PCR method for the detection of M. leprae in skin biopsies from leprosy patients.
abstract: A one-tube nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method for the diagnosis of paucibacillary leprosy was developed using the repetitive RLEP sequence as a target. Detection of the PCR products was simplified by the adaptation of a colorimetric method. The test was specific for Mycobacterium leprae, and the sensitivity of the assay was 1 fg of purified genomic M. leprae DNA (less than one genome). Complete concordance was seen between the development of color and resolution on agarose gels. The results of frozen skin sections from untreated patients showed that the assay could detect 100% of multibacillary samples [bacterial index (BI) of 2 or more] and 69% and 70% of the samples with BIs of 1 and 0, respectively. The use of one-tube nested PCR in assessing the effectiveness of multidrug therapy (MDT) in leprosy also was determined. The simplified colorimetric assay was found to be sensitive, rapid and specific, and is suitable for use in routing diagnostic laboratories.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, U.K.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jamil
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hacket
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hussain
authors.forename: N G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Stoker
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D003124:Colorimetry; D017931:DNA Primers; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D007917:Leprostatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007918:Leprosy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009166:Mycobacterium leprae / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D007917:Leprostatic Agents