title: Clinical, bacteriological and immunological follow-up of household contacts of leprosy patients from a post-elimination area - Antioquia, Colombia.
abstract: Follow-up of the household contacts (HHC) of leprosy patients is still the best strategy for early detection of leprosy. HHC from a post-elimination region of Colombia studied in 2001-2002 were re-contacted in 2007. They were tested at both times by clinical examination, bacillary index (BI), PCR from a slit skin smear (SSS) and anti PGL-1 IgM titres. Thirty-two of 61 HHC (52%) were re-contacted. Nine HHC (28%) showed sero-conversion and one had a skin lesion (BI negative, nested PCR positive). Periodic evaluation of HHC can contribute to the detection of infected HHC as well as new and early leprosy cases.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Colombiano de Medicina Tropical, Universidad CES, Antioquia, Colombia. ncardona@ces.edu.co
authors.forename: Nora
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cardona-Castro
authors.forename: Juan Camilo
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Beltrán-Alzate
authors.forename: Marcela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Romero-Montoya
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D003105:Colombia; D016358:Contact Tracing; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D007918:Leprosy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000635:transmission; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009166:Mycobacterium leprae / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007074:Immunoglobulin G