NDO-BSA, LID-1, and NDO-LID Antibody Responses for Infection and RLEP by Quantitative PCR as a Confirmatory Test for Early Leprosy Diagnosis

Diagnostic tests for leprosy are limited, especially to identify early cases. We performed active case findings of validate three potential antigen candidates and one molecular target. Cases were diagnosed by characteristic skin lesions, nerve enlargement, or sensation loss. Serum samples obtained from all subjects tested ELISA assess antibody titers Mycobacterium leprae specific antigens: NDO-BSA, LID-1, NDO-LID. Most the field cases on Mosqueiro Island, northern Brazil, also collected slit smear qPCR. Active finding 105 new out 894 (11.7%), revealing a high prevalence M. in region. With use amplification -specific RLEP qPCR, 68/79 (86.07%) these positive, confirming field. Patients at reference center showed much higher antigens, while patients significantly lower. Our results support previous that surveillance experienced leprologists can diagnose additional based clinical findings, many would not be identified using assay with available biomarkers, qPCR may used confirm majority