@article{ajeid2014231,
author={{Nsagha, Dickson Shey and Bamgboye, Elijah Afolabi and Salimonu, Lekan and Assob, Jules Clement Nguedia and Tabah, Earnest Njih and Bissek, Anne-C¨¦cile and Njunda, Anna Longdoh and Kamga, Henri-Lucien and Ngowe, Marcelin Ngowe and Njamnshi, Alfred Kongnyu},
title={Epidemiological Surveillance of Leprosy in Cameroon Using the ELISA Test with D-BSA and Tris-HCl as Buffer},
journal={American Journal of Epidemiology and Infectious Disease},
volume={2},
number={3},
pages={66--73},
year={2014},
url={http://pubs.sciepub.com/ajeid/2/3/1},
issn={2333-1275},
abstract={<b>Background:</b> Early detection of leprosy is important for elimination, but most cases are diagnosed only when lesions occur and nerves and skin are damaged.<SUP> </SUP>The<SUP> </SUP>determination of the risk of contacts to develop leprosy is still unpredictable, and elimination is not possible as long as contacts can still develop the disease. <b>Methods:</b> A<i><b> </b></i>modified PGL-I ELISA using tris-HCl as buffer and D-BSA as antigen evaluated IgM leprosy antibodies for the detection of subclinical leprosy infection and monitor effective chemotherapy. This case-control study took place in a leprosy endemic area among lepers diagnosed clinically and bacteriologically, intra-familial and extra-familial contacts and controls consisting of patients attending a health facility for reasons other than leprosy. <b>Results</b>: The highest mean absorbance of positive sera was from leprosy patients (0.14 ¡À 0.06), contacts (0.12 ¡À 0.05) and controls (0.04¡À0.04). The proportion of sero-positive subjects for IgM anti-bodies to <i>M. leprae</i> was 43.5 % (95% CI: 37.6% - 49.4%). Twenty-three (44.2%) discharged cases since 1985 were still sero-positive for leprosy IgM anti-bodies; 15 years after treatment. We found a<b> </b>risk factor of 6 among contacts and controls suggesting a high level of transmission. Boyo division had a higher seropositivity (51.5%) compared to Mezam division (30%). Positive cases were clustered among students (44.8%), farmers (42.5%), the self-employed (44.7%), those with paid employment (37.5%) and the unemployed (60.0%) (P=0.01). <b>Conclusion:</b> The PGL-I ELISA with D-BSA and tris-HCl as buffer is a useful epidemiological surveillance tool for the detection of sub-clinical leprosy infection and chemotherapy monitoring. The discharged patients who tested positive should be re-evaluated for relapses.},
doi={10.12691/ajeid-2-3-1}
publisher={Science and Education Publishing}
}