EVALUATION OF PCR MEDIATED DNA AMPLIFICATION IN NONINVASIVE BIOLOGICAL SPECIMENS FOR SUBCLINICAL DETECTION OF MYCOBACTERIUM-LEPRAE

DNA from Mycobacterium leprae, present in non-invasive clinical sample s from leprosy patients, such as nasal secretion and hair bulbs, was s ubmitted to amplification by the polymerase chain reaction using a M. leprae-specific repetitive sequence as a target. After optimization of sample processing and of the PCR conditions, we were able to detect D NA from M. leprae in-both types of clinical samples, even from pauciba cillary leprosy patients. The use of hair bulbs and nasal secretion as clinical samples for screening of household contacts and for the eval uation of a risk population, or for the follow-up of patients under ch emotherapy, and monitoring of bacterial load is discussed.