Field-friendly serological tests for determination of M. leprae-specific antibodies.

ABSTRACT: Early detection of leprosy is key to reduce the ongoing transmission. Antibodies directed against M. leprae PGL-I represent a useful biomarker for detecting multibacillary (MB) patients. Since efficient leprosy diagnosis requires field-friendly test conditions, we evaluated two rapid lateral flow assays (LFA) for detection of Mycobacterium leprae-specific antibodies: the visual immunogold OnSite Leprosy Ab Rapid test [Gold-LFA] and the quantitative, luminescent up-converting phosphor anti-PGL-I test [UCP-LFA]. Test performance was assessed in independent cohorts originating from three endemic areas. In the Philippine cohort comprising patients with high bacillary indices (BI; average:4,9), 94%(n?=?161) of MB patients were identified by UCP-LFA and 78%(n?=?133) by Gold-LFA. In the Bangladeshi cohort, including mainly MB patients with low BI (average:1), 41%(n?=?14) and 44%(n?=?15) were detected by UCP-LFA and Gold-LFA, respectively. In the third cohort of schoolchildren from a leprosy hyperendemic region in Brazil, both tests detected 28%(n?=?17) seropositivity. Both rapid tests corresponded well with BI(p?

SUBMITTER: van Hooij A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5566372 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature