Karla Lucena Sampaio Calado1, Mônica Maria Ferreira Magnanini2, Rodrigo Scaliante de Moura3, Maria Eugenia Noviski Gallo4, Samira Bührer-Sékula5, Maria Leide Wand-Del-Rey de Oliveira6. 1. Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de JaneiroRJ, Brazil, Master's in Dermatology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) - Assistant Professor of Dermatology, Federal University of Grande Dourados (UFGD). PhD in Tropical Medicine from the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ) - Rio de Janeiro (RJ), Brazil. 2. Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de JaneiroRJ, Brazil, PhD in Public Health from the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ). Statistics, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) - Rio de Janeiro (RJ), Brazil. 3. Federal University of Goiás, GoiâniaGO, Brazil, Biomedical doctor. Master's in Tropical Medicine, Federal University of Goiás (UFG) - Goiânia (GO), Brazil. 4. Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de JaneiroRJ, Brazil, PhD in Tropical Medicine from the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ). Professor at the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ) - Rio de Janeiro (RJ), Brazil. 5. Universiteit van Amsterdam, Netherlands, Netherlands, PhD in Immunology from the Universiteit van Amsterdam, Netherlands - Collaborating Professor at the Federal University of Goiás (UFG) - Goiânia (GO), Brazil. 6. Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de JaneiroRJ, Brazil, PhD in Dermatology from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ)-Federal Adjuct Professor, University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro (RJ), Brazil.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: In highly endemic countries, transmission and sub-clinical infection of leprosy are likely and the disease manifests itself in individuals without any known close contact with a leprosy patient. Health workers are social contacts belonging to the same network (the Health System) and some of them share the same social environment (nursing assistants) as patients with known patients and / or carriers. OBJECTIVE: To identify ML Flow seropositivity among health professionals. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study using a serological survey with the ML Flow test in 450 health professionals (doctors, nurses and nursing assistants), in order to detect seropositivity in areas of high and low endemicity in municipalities from three Brazilian states (RJ, MS and RS). RESULTS: The results showed general 16% seropositivity, higher in low endemic areas, regardless of whether there was direct care for leprosy patients. Paradoxically, a statistical association was observed between the area studied and seropositivity, as the place with the lowest endemicity (CA) had the highest seropositivity rate (p = 0.033). CONCLUSION: The authors suggest these results are associated with a presence of an unspecified link to bovine serum albumin (BSA), carrier of PGL-1 in the ML Flow test, and recommend expanded seroepidemiological research utilizing tests with human and bovine albumin.
BACKGROUND: In highly endemic countries, transmission and sub-clinical infection of leprosy are likely and the disease manifests itself in individuals without any known close contact with a leprosypatient. Health workers are social contacts belonging to the same network (the Health System) and some of them share the same social environment (nursing assistants) as patients with known patients and / or carriers. OBJECTIVE: To identify ML Flow seropositivity among health professionals. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study using a serological survey with the ML Flow test in 450 health professionals (doctors, nurses and nursing assistants), in order to detect seropositivity in areas of high and low endemicity in municipalities from three Brazilian states (RJ, MS and RS). RESULTS: The results showed general 16% seropositivity, higher in low endemic areas, regardless of whether there was direct care for leprosypatients. Paradoxically, a statistical association was observed between the area studied and seropositivity, as the place with the lowest endemicity (CA) had the highest seropositivity rate (p = 0.033). CONCLUSION: The authors suggest these results are associated with a presence of an unspecified link to bovineserum albumin (BSA), carrier of PGL-1 in the ML Flow test, and recommend expanded seroepidemiological research utilizing tests with human and bovinealbumin.
Authors: E González-Abreu; J A Pon; P Hernádez; J Rodriguez; E Mendoza; M Hernández; E Cuevas; A B González Journal: Lepr Rev Date: 1996-03 Impact factor: 0.537
Authors: S Bührer-Sékula; H L Smits; G C Gussenhoven; J van Leeuwen; S Amador; T Fujiwara; P R Klatser; L Oskam Journal: J Clin Microbiol Date: 2003-05 Impact factor: 5.948