Diagnosis of leprosy by PCR targeting gene encoding 36 kDa antigen of Mycobacterium leprae

Background & Objective: This cross sectional study was carried out to assess the diagnostic value of PCR in different forms of leprosy. For the detection of Mycobacterium leprae, DNA amplification by polymerase chain reaction of a 531-bp fragment of the Mycobacterium leprae specific gene encoding the 36 kDA antigen. Methodology: It was done on different clinical specimens (slit smear of skin, ear lobule smear and nasal smear) from 50 leprosy patients attending the Leprosy Hospital, Mohakhali, Dhaka. Patients were divided into two groups; paucibacillary (70%) group and multibacillary (30%) group. PCR showed 100% positivity in skin and ear lobule and 73.4% positivity in nasal smear of multibacillary group. PCR was positive in 40%, 25.7% and 11.4% in skin lesion, ear lobule and nasal swab in paucibacillry group respectively. Result: Compared with other diagnostic procedures, PCR showed clear advantages over both modified Z-N stain and auramine-phenol stain especially in paucibacillary patients. Bangladesh J Med Microbiol 2020; 14 (1): 11-14