PRIMARY RESISTANCE TO SINGLE AND MULTIPLE-DRUGS IN LEPROSY - A MOUSE FOOTPAD STUDY

Skin biopsy homogenates obtained from three cases of lepromatous lepro sy with no prior history of antileprosy treatment were tested La the m ouse footpad for the sensitivity of Mycobacterium leprae to multiple d rugs. One of the inocula was sensitive to all the three drugs tested u sing the highest concentration each of DDS 0.01 g%, RFP 0.03 g% and CL F 0.01 g%. The 2nd inocula showed growth in the presence of 0.01 g% DD S only. While the 3rd inocula (Pt. KU) tested resistant to all the thr ee drugs in the first, i.e. man to mouse, as well as in the second pas sage, i.e. mouse to mouse.