title: Identification of M.leprae in conjunctiva of leprosy patients using the superior tarsal conjunctiva scrape technique.
abstract: The technique of superior tarsal conjunctiva scrape was used for identifying M.leprae in the conjunctiva in 56 leprosy patients (all of them multibacillary, some untreated and others treated with multidrug therapy). The technique of tarsal conjunctiva scrape was shown to be more suitable than conjunctival biopsy for identifying lepra bacilli. This technique is also easier to perform and has shown a statistical relation between bacilloscopical index of skin (BIsk) and bacilloscopical index of tarsal conjunctiva (BIconj) values. Thus, if the bacilli can be identified at tarsal conjunctiva we can assume greater systemic bacillary load in the patients.
authors: São Geraldo Hospital, Medical School, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
authors: W R
authors: WR
authors: Campos
authors: C A
authors: CA
authors: Rodrigues
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Oréfice
authors: L G
authors: LG
authors: Monteiro
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000382:microbiology*; D003584:Cytological Techniques; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007918:Leprosy / Q000382:microbiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009166:Mycobacterium leprae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology*