Detection of Mycobacterium Leprae in Environmental Samples Collected from Residence Area of Patients with Active Leprosy by Targeting RLEP-PCR – A Prospective Analytical Study from Central India

Authors

  • Chaitanya Nigam Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology, Shri Shankaracharya Institute of Medical Sciences, Junwani, Bhilai, Chhattisgarh, India
  • K. Ravi Rao Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, Venerology & Leprosy, Shri Rawatpura Institute of Medical Sciences & Research, Nava Raipur, Chhattisgarh India
  • Dhiraj Katara Scientist, Viral Diagnostic, laboratory, Department of Microbiology, Late SMT IGM Government Medical College, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India, 494334
  • Rupam Gahlot Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology, Pt. JNM Medical College, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India, 492001
  • Pooja Jaswani MSc. Student, Department of Microbiology, MATS University, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India, 492001
  • Nidhi Solanki MSc. Student, Department of Microbiology, MATS University, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India, 492001

Abstract

Introduction: The transmission mechanism of Mycobacterium leprae is not clearly known. There are evidences available showing healthy individuals living in close contact with active leprosy patients are at high risk. In studies from India itself, Mycobacterium leprae DNA, have been isolated from environmental samples such as soil and water which shows shedding of organism from active leprosy cases. The possibility of transmission of infection from environment being as a source of infection has yet to be proven. These findings challenged the long-held belief that M. leprae transmission occurred solely through human-to-human contact (respiratory route like in Tuberculosis). Aim/Objective: The central aim of this investigation was to detect Mycobacterium leprae DNA in environmen-tal samples like fomite (pillow cover/ towel/ bedsheet etc.) by targeting the RLEP sequence using Polymerase Chain Reaction. Methods: This study is a prospective analytical study done for a study period of six months at an institute of national importance situated in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India in which newly diagnosed patients of active leprosy disease attending the institute during study period were registered and samples from their household were col-lected. A total 147 sample were collected from 29 cases. DNA was extracted using salting out – proteinase K method. Detection of M. leprae was done using RLEP-PCR. Result: A total of 63 water samples and 84 fomite swab samples were collected from the houses of 29 patients and from various water bodies in and around their residence area. In this study, we analyzed 84 fomite samples, including swabs from beds, towels, and door handle, using LP-1 and LP-2 primers to amplify a 129 bp RLEP sequence. Among these, one door/floor sample and one towel sample from the household of a multibacillary (MB) case tested positive for RLEP-PCR. All remaining fomite samples, as well as all 63 water samples, were PCR negative. Conclusion: The detection of Mycobacterium leprae DNA in two fomite samples (door/floor and towel) from the household of a multibacillary case suggests the shedding of bacilli from the active case. However, M. leprae DNA were absent in all water samples and the majority of fomite samples.

Keywords:

Leprosy, Environmental health, Transmission, Molecular Biology, RLEP-PCR

References

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Published

2025-09-04
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Vol. 16 No. 9 (2025): Volume16,Issue9

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