Insight toward early diagnosis of leprosy through analysis of the developing antibody responses of Mycobacterium leprae-infected armadillos.

Leprosy is a debilitating chronic disease caused by infection with Mycobacterium leprae. A World Health Organization-directed control strategy based upon the identification and treatment of patients has resulted in a marked reduction in the number of registered worldwide leprosy cases over the last 20 years. Despite these efforts, the number of new leprosy cases detected each year now remains relatively stable, and M.

Rational design and evaluation of a multiepitope chimeric fusion protein with the potential for leprosy diagnosis.

Despite the reduction in the number of leprosy cases registered worldwide as a result of the widespread use of multidrug therapy, the number of new cases detected each year remains stable in many countries. This indicates that Mycobacterium leprae, the causative agent of leprosy, is still being transmitted and that, without an earlier diagnosis, transmission will continue and infection will remain a health problem. The current means of diagnosis of leprosy is based on the appearance of clinical symptoms, which in many cases occur after significant and irreversible nerve damage has occurred.