Antibodies to Phenolic Glycolipid-1 of Mycobacterium leprae in Urine of Leprosy Patients

Colleagues-Leprosy is a chronic disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, a slow-growing obligate intracellular parasite. At the early stages, the disease is generally curable by chemotherapy. A labora- tory test for detection of the early stage would be of immense help in disease control. Anti-PGL-1 IgG and IgM antibodies were found in the serum of 3 (23 %) and 4 (3\9o) of 13 patients with tuberculoid leprosy, respec- tively (figure 1A); 3 (25 %) and 6 (50 %) of 12 individuals with bor- derline leprosy were positive for IgG and IgM antibodies, respectively. In patients with lepromatous leprosy, 10 (33 %) and 24 (80 %) of 30 were positive for IgG and IgM antibodies, respectively. All con- trols were negative for anti-PGL-1 antibodies. Anti-PGL-1 IgG and IgM antibodies were found in the urine of 7 (54 %) and 3 (23 %) of 13 patients with tuberculoid leprosy (figure IB); 8 (67%) and 3 (25%) of 12 patients with borderline leprosy were positive for IgG and IgM antibodies, respectively. In patients with lepromatous leprosy, 25 (85 %) and 11 (37 %) of 30 were posi- tive for IgG and IgM antibodies, respectively. No control was posi-