Molecular detection of Mycobacterium leprae in the lachrymal film of leprosy cases, health staff, and healthy individuals
Introduction: Leprosy is still endemic in some countries, and interruption of the infection chain is essential to reduce its burden. This article aims to verify if the lachrymal film of leprosy cases and non-leprosy can be a site of relevance in the early molecular detection of M. leprae. Methodo...
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The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Journal of Infection in Developing Countries |
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| Online Access: | https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/20283 |
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| author | Josmar Sabage Luís E Sabage Andrea FF Belone Gislaine A Querino Luciana R Fachim Luiza Pinheiro Marcos CL Virmond |
| author_facet | Josmar Sabage Luís E Sabage Andrea FF Belone Gislaine A Querino Luciana R Fachim Luiza Pinheiro Marcos CL Virmond |
| author_sort | Josmar Sabage |
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Introduction: Leprosy is still endemic in some countries, and interruption of the infection chain is essential to reduce its burden. This article aims to verify if the lachrymal film of leprosy cases and non-leprosy can be a site of relevance in the early molecular detection of M. leprae.
Methodology: the quantitative polymerase chain reaction technique was used. The sample included 54 patients with leprosy compared to 49 health professionals working at a hospital specialized in leprosy (staff), and 51 healthy individuals outside the hospital without theoretical contact with patients (outsiders). The qPCR was used for the detection of Mycobacterium leprae in lacrimal samples of different clinical forms, where molecular detection was based on the overlap of the Specific Repetitive Element.
Results: M. leprae DNA was demonstrated in all three groups in significantly increasing proportions among the outsiders, staff, and patient groups, respectively, 13.7%, 37.8%, and 42.5%.
Conclusions: Mycobacterium leprae, in endemic countries, is present in the environment and can transmit to humans, regardless of the determination of the infection process and immune response. Known to be a direct and aerial transmission microorganism, it was also found that M. leprae is present in the tear film, being more prevalent in leprosy cases than in the general population. These findings may have epidemiological repercussions along the disease’s transmission chain.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5018269feef2496d82a83b58e0c78a86 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1972-2680 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Infection in Developing Countries |
| spelling | doaj-art-5018269feef2496d82a83b58e0c78a862025-08-20T02:16:02ZengThe Journal of Infection in Developing CountriesJournal of Infection in Developing Countries1972-26802025-03-01190310.3855/jidc.20283Molecular detection of Mycobacterium leprae in the lachrymal film of leprosy cases, health staff, and healthy individualsJosmar Sabage0Luís E Sabage1Andrea FF Belone2Gislaine A Querino3Luciana R Fachim4Luiza Pinheiro5Marcos CL Virmond6Lauro de Souza Lima Institute (ILSL), Bauru, SP, BrazilHospital for Rehabilitation of Craniofacial Anomalies, University of São Paulo (HRAC-USP), Bauru, SP, BrazilLauro de Souza Lima Institute (ILSL), Bauru, SP, BrazilLauro de Souza Lima Institute (ILSL), Bauru, SP, BrazilLauro de Souza Lima Institute (ILSL), Bauru, SP, BrazilLauro de Souza Lima Institute (ILSL), Bauru, SP, BrazilLauro de Souza Lima Institute (ILSL), Bauru, SP, Brazil Introduction: Leprosy is still endemic in some countries, and interruption of the infection chain is essential to reduce its burden. This article aims to verify if the lachrymal film of leprosy cases and non-leprosy can be a site of relevance in the early molecular detection of M. leprae. Methodology: the quantitative polymerase chain reaction technique was used. The sample included 54 patients with leprosy compared to 49 health professionals working at a hospital specialized in leprosy (staff), and 51 healthy individuals outside the hospital without theoretical contact with patients (outsiders). The qPCR was used for the detection of Mycobacterium leprae in lacrimal samples of different clinical forms, where molecular detection was based on the overlap of the Specific Repetitive Element. Results: M. leprae DNA was demonstrated in all three groups in significantly increasing proportions among the outsiders, staff, and patient groups, respectively, 13.7%, 37.8%, and 42.5%. Conclusions: Mycobacterium leprae, in endemic countries, is present in the environment and can transmit to humans, regardless of the determination of the infection process and immune response. Known to be a direct and aerial transmission microorganism, it was also found that M. leprae is present in the tear film, being more prevalent in leprosy cases than in the general population. These findings may have epidemiological repercussions along the disease’s transmission chain. https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/20283Leprosyeyelachrymal filmreal-time PCR (qPCR)RLEP85B |
| spellingShingle | Josmar Sabage Luís E Sabage Andrea FF Belone Gislaine A Querino Luciana R Fachim Luiza Pinheiro Marcos CL Virmond Molecular detection of Mycobacterium leprae in the lachrymal film of leprosy cases, health staff, and healthy individuals Journal of Infection in Developing Countries Leprosy eye lachrymal film real-time PCR (qPCR) RLEP 85B |
| title | Molecular detection of Mycobacterium leprae in the lachrymal film of leprosy cases, health staff, and healthy individuals |
| title_full | Molecular detection of Mycobacterium leprae in the lachrymal film of leprosy cases, health staff, and healthy individuals |
| title_fullStr | Molecular detection of Mycobacterium leprae in the lachrymal film of leprosy cases, health staff, and healthy individuals |
| title_full_unstemmed | Molecular detection of Mycobacterium leprae in the lachrymal film of leprosy cases, health staff, and healthy individuals |
| title_short | Molecular detection of Mycobacterium leprae in the lachrymal film of leprosy cases, health staff, and healthy individuals |
| title_sort | molecular detection of mycobacterium leprae in the lachrymal film of leprosy cases health staff and healthy individuals |
| topic | Leprosy eye lachrymal film real-time PCR (qPCR) RLEP 85B |
| url | https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/20283 |
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