Transmission of dapsone-resistant leprosy detected by molecular epidemiological approaches

Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2011 Nov;55(11):5384-7. doi: 10.1128/AAC.05236-11. Epub 2011 Aug 22.

Abstract

Drug resistance surveillance identified six untreated leprosy patients in the Philippines with Mycobacterium leprae folP1 mutations which confer dapsone resistance. Five patients share a village of residence; four who carried the mutation, Thr53Val, were also linked by M. leprae variable-number tandem repeat (VNTR) strain types. In India, folP1 mutations were detected in two relapse patients with a history of dapsone treatment. Mutations were not found in the rifampin target gene rpoB. These findings indicate that dapsone resistance is being transmitted.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Dapsone / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • India
  • Leprostatic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Leprosy / drug therapy*
  • Leprosy / genetics
  • Leprosy / transmission*
  • Molecular Epidemiology / methods*
  • Mutation
  • Mycobacterium leprae / drug effects*
  • Mycobacterium leprae / genetics
  • Mycobacterium leprae / pathogenicity*
  • Philippines
  • Rifampin / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Leprostatic Agents
  • Dapsone
  • Rifampin