(LML) Staining of M. leprae

Leprosy Mailing List – July 30,  2014 

Ref.:  (LML) Staining of M. leprae 

From:  P.K. Das, Birmingham, U.K.

---

Dear Pieter,

Thank you for the letters of David Schollard  and Jaison Barreto (LML July 25, 2014).

Variable results in  Fite vs ZN staining is well recognised. In order to overcome such difficulty, I wonder whether or not one should advocate the staining with specific LAM and PGL-1 antibodies, which is quite easy at least not more difficult than Fite  and ZN.

In regards to Jaison’s  remark, I fully sympathise with his compassion. However, in regards to the dogma that M.leprae has affinity for Schwann cells and the notion that once infected M.leprae goes to Schwann cells, I question if it is really absolute correct or does M.leprae hide away from the rising immune attack by the host and take refuge in Schwann cells in face of the immune attack.

My experience with Patricia Rosa in ILSL, who carries out routinely mouse foot pad inoculation, is that to my knowledge we were not able to find any AFB in the nerves or Schwann cells adjacent to the foot pad site where the bacilli were multiplying.

One should carefully reconsider this dogma. Most likely David may comment on this.

 

Regards,

Pranab

---

LML - S Deepak, B Naafs, S Noto and P Schreuder

LML blog link: http://leprosymailinglist.blogspot.it/

Contact: Dr Pieter Schreuder << editorlml@gmail.com

---

This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active.