Monday, November 2, 2009

Leprosy clinics in the USA

Leprosy Mailing List – October 31st, 2009

Ref.: Leprosy clinics in the USA

From: Saunderson P., Greenville , SC , USA


Dear Salvatore,

I refer to Dr Poorman’s message (LML Oct. 29th, 2009). Please note that there are several leprosy clinics in the USA connected to the National Hansen’s Disease Programs, based in Baton Rouge , Louisiana . Contact details for all the clinics around the country can be found at:

http://www.hrsa.gov/hansens/clinics.htm

In California , the clinics are in Los Angeles , Martinez and San Diego .

With kind regards,

Dr Paul Saunderson MD, MRCP( UK )

Medical Director, American Leprosy Missions,

Head office: 1 ALM Way, Greenville , SC 29601 , USA

Personal address: Østrem, 6013 Ålesund , Norway

Email: psaunderson(at)leprosy.org

NB

Martinez is 25 mi . from San Francisco . The address of the Clinic in Martinez is:-

Contra Nostra Regional Medical Center

25 Alhambra Avenue

Martinez , CA 94533

Ph # 925 313- 6726 or 925 370-5868

Public Health Nurse Ms Elise Judy R.N.

email: ejudy(at)hsd.co.contra-costa.ca.us

Leprosy Doctor in San Francisco ?

Leprosy Mailing List – October 29th, 2009

Ref.: Leprosy Doctor in San Francisco ?

From: Poorman E., Boston , MA , USA


Dear Dr. Noto,

I'm writing to ask that you solicit the leprosy mailing list for a leprosy doctor in the San Francisco area? I've received the message below from the friend of a patient who has immigrated from Brazil and been diagnosed with leprosy, but has been unable to find a physician familiar with the disease.

Many thanks,

Elisabeth Poorman

De: Rhafaela Taylor
Enviada em: terça-feira, 27 de outubro de 2009 21:02
EMAIL:
coordenacao(at)morhan.org.br
Assunto: ola
ola tudo bem ?meu nome e Rafaela moro en San Francisco na California,visitei o site de vcs,tenho um amigo que tem hanseniase,e gostaria de saber se vcs conhecem alguma ong ou algum tipo de ajuda a portades dessa doenca aqui ele tinha me dito que uma vez foi ao medico aqui, elas informaram a ele que nunca tinha ouvido falar nesse tipo de doenca aqui. Acho que seja impossivel nao ter alguma coisa aqui mais ate agora nao achei nada!
obrigada!

Leprosy statistics 2008 - Part III

Leprosy Mailing List – October 29th, 2009

Ref.: Leprosy statistics 2008 - Part III

From: Noto S., Genoa , Italy


Leprosy statistics 2008

Part III.

Table 2. (Excel)

Major 17 leprosy endemic countries in 2008.

Figures (Powerpoint)

Figure 9.1

India , Brazil , Indonesia NCD from 2002 to 2008

Figure 9.2

Major 17 leprosy endemic countries.

Countries (8/17) with decreasing NCD of leprosy from 2007 to 2008

Figure 9.3

Major 17 leprosy endemic countries.

Countries (6/17) with increasing NCD of leprosy from 2007 to 2008

Sources of data are listed in Table 1., Part I.

Leprosy statistics 2008 - Part II

Leprosy Mailing List – October 27th, 2009

Ref.: Leprosy statistics 2008 - Part II

From: Noto S., Genoa , Italy


Leprosy statistics 2008

Part II

Figure 2.

Global, NCD of leprosy from 1985 to 2008

Figure 3.

South-East Asia , NCD of leprosy from 1991 to 2008

Figure 4.

India , NCD of leprosy from 1885 to 2008

Figure 5.

Americas , NCD of leprosy from 1991 to 2008

Figure 6.

Brazil , NCD of leprosy from 1980 to 2008

Figure 7.

Africa , NCD of leprosy from 1991 to 2008

Figure 8.

Western Pacific and Eastern Mediterranean , NCD of leprosy from 2002 to 2008

Leprosy statistics 2008 - Part I.

Leprosy Mailing List – October 21st, 2009

Ref.: Leprosy statistics 2008 - Part I

From: Noto S., Genoa , Italy


Dear All,

In this and in the coming two mails are enclosed leprosy statistics at global, selected World Health Organization (WHO) regions and countries updated to the year 2008. The main source of these data is the Weekly Epidemiological Record (WER) and details of the relevant issues are reported in Table 1. The indicator used is new case detection (NCD).

Countries reporting to WHO varies from one year to another, this makes comparisons between years and rates unreliable. However in the last years, in many cases, stabilization of a previously declining trend is evident. All comments will be welcome.

Best regards,

S. Noto

Leprosy statistics 2008

Part I

Table 1.

Leprosy NCD available data at global, selected WHO regions and countries (Excel).

Figure 1.

Geographical distribution of leprosy NCD by WHO Region in 2008

Part II

Figure 2.

Global, NCD of leprosy from 1985 to 2008

Figure 3.

South-East Asia , NCD of leprosy from 1991 to 2008

Figure 4.

India , NCD of leprosy from 1885 to 2008

Figure 5.

Americas , NCD of leprosy from 1991 to 2008

Figure 6.

Brazil , NCD of leprosy from 1980 to 2008

Figure 7.

Africa , NCD of leprosy from 1991 to 2008

Figure 8.

Western Pacific and Eastern Mediterranean , NCD of leprosy from 2002 to 2008

Part III.

Table 2.

Major 17 leprosy endemic countries in 2008.

Figure 9.1

India , Brazil , Indonesia NCD from 2002 to 2008

Figure 9.2

Major 17 leprosy endemic countries.

Countries (8/17) with decreasing NCD of leprosy from 2007 to 2008

Figure 9.3

Major 17 leprosy endemic countries.

Countries (6/17) with increasing NCD of leprosy from 2007 to 2008

Reverse Transcription-PCR in biopsy specimens from leprosy cases

Leprosy Mailing List – October 17th, 2009

Ref.: Reverse Transcription-PCR in biopsy specimens from leprosy cases.

From: Clapasson A., Genoa , Italy


Dear Dr Haroen,

Thank you very much for your message (LML Oct. 16th 2009). I read it with interest. Your questions are reported in “black”.

“Is it because I used different primer that might cause the positive result from my research is very low (56,7%)?”

LP1 and LP2 are good primers for first step in research of RLEP and you find these repetitive sequence thirty-nine times. These primers have got interesting characteristics, but if your BAR is viable, its rRNA 16s is amplified more than thirty-nine times. Kurabachew uses primers for rRNA 16s.

“Or is there any other explanation that can cause this?

Yes there is, are you sure about your extraction? This step is more important than PCR.

“Is this mean that M. leprae was viable on the skin surface?”

I ask you: what is the morphological index (MI) in the skin smears? What is the aspect of your BARs in the nasal swab? If there were “solids” we may assume they were viable.

“Is there any possibility that M. leprae from skin structure can come out to the surface of the skin lesion?”

The main portals of exit are the upper airways and ulcerated or abraded skin lesions.

Is there any possibility that M. leprae can live outside the body (enviroment: water, soil, etc)?

It may survive with the right conditions of humidity up to 40 days.

“So what is the meaning of M. leprae is an obligate intracellular?”

Interesting question. I can tell you that it is a dogma; but I doubt when I see the big hyper-chromic globes in the nasal smears of untreated LL patients, that this dogma is always true (I suspect it is not!).

“But from 1 specimen that positive RNA from skin swab, the RNA biopsy was negative. Is that means that M. leprae that viable on the skin surface came from environment? Or is there any other explanation regarding this result?”

A very interesting paper is that of Dr Williams. She says that if there are a lot of T cells, these can inhibit your PCR. M. leprae does not live on the skin but into the skin.

My best regards,

Andrea

PS.

I apologize if I was imprecise but, in some points I have expressed my opinion.

Reverse Transcription-PCR in biopsy specimens from leprosy cases

Leprosy Mailing List – October 16th, 2009

Ref.: Reverse Transcription-PCR in biopsy specimens from leprosy cases.

From: Haroen M. S., Jakarta , Indonesia


Dear Dr Noto,

I am a resident of dermatology in Indonesian University , Jakarta , Indonesia . I am doing a research about leprosy. I would be very grateful if you can give me some information/expanations.

1. RNA M. leprae from skin biopsies.

Biopsy specimens from 30 newly diagnosed, untreated, clinically MB patients were put in RNAlater® in 40C for 1 night then -200C until examined (in 3,5 months) with Reverse Transcription-PCR. All patients were positive for acid fast bacilli (all bacterial index were positive).

RNA extracted using RNeasy® Mini kit & RNeasy® fibrous tissue kit from QIAGEN®

RT-PCR was done using random primer ( to make cDNA)

First PCR was done with primer: LPF & LPR, nested PCR with primer: LP1 & LP2

The result: RNA M. leprae was detected only 17 (56,7%) specimens, the other 13 specimens were negative

What could cause this happened?

From Kurabachew M, et al [Reverse transcription-PCR detection of Mycobacterium lepraein clinical specimens. J Clin Microbiol 1998;36(5):1352-6] said RNA M. leprae was detected in 82% of skin biopsy specimens from untreated leprosy patients (96% from MB patients). Is it because I used different primer that might cause the positive result from my research is very low (56,7%)? Or is there any other explanation that can cause this?

2. RNA M. leprae from skin swabs.

Swab using cotton buds, that had been dipped into phosphate buffer saline, were swab on surface of intact skin lesions from 30 newly diagnosed, untreated, clinically MB patients. The cotton buds were put in RNAlater® in 40C for 1 night then -200C until examined (in 3,5 months) with Reverse Transcription-PCR. All patients were positive for acid fast bacilli (all bacterial index were positive).

RNA extracted using RNeasy® Mini kit & RNeasy® fibrous tissue kit from QIAGEN®

RT-PCR was done using random primer ( to make cDNA).

First PCR was done with primer: LPF & LPR, nested PCR with primer: LP1 & LP2

The result:

a. RNA M. leprae was detected 2 (6,7%) specimens, the other 28 specimens were negative.

Is this mean that M. leprae was viable on skin surface?

b. From 1 patient, RNA M. leprae from skin swab & skin biopsy was positive.

Is there any possibility that M. leprae from skin structure can come out to the surface of the skin lesion?

Is there any possibility that M. leprae can live outside the body (enviroment: water, soil, etc)?

So what is the meaning of M. leprae is an obligate intracellular?

c. But from 1 specimen that positive RNA from skin swab, the RNA biopsy was negative.

Is that mean that M. leprae that viable on the skin surface came from environment? Or is there any other explanation regarding this result?

I did not find other journal that ever did RT-PCR from swab of leprosy skin lesions. I did this research because I want to know the possibility intact leprosy skin lesions as a source of leprosy infection.

One of my colleague did PCR DNA from swab of intact leprosy skin lesions and found 82% positive and from Job CK, Jayakumar J, Kearney M, Gillis TP. [Transmission of Leprosy: A Study of Skin and Nasal Secretions of Household Contacts of Leprosy Patients Using PCR. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2008;78(3):518-21] found 80% of the patients had M. leprae DNA in skin washings.

Please, help me.

Mona

Dr. Mona Safira Haroen (Resident)

Departement Dermatology and Venereology

Faculty Medicine of University of Indonesia

Jl. Diponegoro no 71

Jakarta , Indonesia

“History of Leprosy, a Tabulation View”. International Leprosy Association (ILA) Presidents, Secretaries and Treasurers

Leprosy Mailing List – October 14th, 2009

Ref.: “History of Leprosy, a Tabulation View”. International Leprosy Association (ILA)

Presidents, Secretaries and Treasurers.

From: Browne D., Brockenhurst, Hampshire , UK


Dear Salvatore,

Looking at past LML's regarding the presidents, secretaries and treasurers. I think my father took over as treasurer from James Ross Innes and was treasurers up to 1984 when Thangaraj took over the secretarial role and then the secretary/treasurer was divided. Previously my father was secretary and treasurer. He handed over the treasurer to Felton Ross. Please, find in attachment the updated table.

Best regards,

Derek

Request of information about “One step leprosy rapid test SD Bioline"

Leprosy Mailing List, October 7th, 2009

Ref.: Request of information about “One step leprosy rapid test SD Bioline"

From: Clapasson A., Genoa , Italy



Dear Juan,

Thank you very much for your today’s message. It would be good to see the datasheet of the above mentioned product in order to know about:

How chromatography works?

Which antibodies are involved?

What is the target? (PGL1, another specific target?)

Best regards,

Andrea

Andrea Clapasson

Biologist

Padiglione Dermatologia Sociale

Az. Ospedaliera Universitaria S. Martino
Largo R. Benzi, 10
16132 Genoa, Italy

Request of information about “One step leprosy rapid test”

Leprosy Mailing List, October 7th, 2009

Ref.: Request of information about “One step leprosy rapid test”

From: Periche Fernandez J., Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic


Dear Salvatore,



The leprosy control programme I work for has received an offer from a laboratory for a test for leprosy: One step leprosy rapid test SD Bioline leprosy
a chromatographic immunoassay for the qualitative detection of antibodies against leprosy in human serum.

Is it any good ? What is the use of it?

Thanks,

Dr. Juan Periche Fernandez

Medico-Dermatologo
Director del programa de control de la lepra de RD

Instituto Dermatologico y Cirugia de Piel Dr Huberto Bogaert Diaz

Apartado postal 1090

Corazones Unidos

Santo Domingo DN

Dominican Republic

Tel.: Office (809) 684-3257 ext 234

Mobile (809)815-1060

Fax: (809) 681-7687

E- mail jperiche(at)hvtudr.org

Historic records about Hansen´s disease

Leprosy Mailing List, September 21st, 2009

Ref.: Historic records about Hansen´s disease

From: Mas V., Fontilles , Spain


Dear Dr. Noto,

I would like to make a note of two web pages that I think they are very interesting to everybody that is collecting historic records about Hansen´s disease.

The first one is Internet Archive: www.archive.org

Searching for: leprosy, lepra or Hansen´s disease you can download not in copyright texts and to watch some short-films.

The second one is the Library of Congress (USA): www.loc.gov

In their sections Digital Collections-Historic Newspapers and Prints & Photographs you can search by leprosy keyword.

Sincerely,

Veronica Mas

Medical Librarian

Fontilles (Spain)

CBR training course, Adis Ababa, November 9-20th, 2009

Leprosy Mailing List, September 21st, 2009

Ref.: CBR training course, Adis Ababa, November 9-20th, 2009

From: Roberts A., Adis Ababa , Ethiopia


Dear Dr Noto,

Greetings again from ALERT, Ethiopia .

Would you be so kind as to remind LML members that ALERT is conducting a 2-week Community Based Rehabilitation training course from November 9-20th. The course addresses CBR in general, but with some emphasis on leprosy. This is in only 7 weeks’ time, and the deadline for registrations for this course is this coming Thursday, September 24th.

I am attaching the course announcement as well as the application form.

Thank you again,

Anne Roberts

for ALERT Training Division

27th IAL Conference, New Delhi , India , 2-4 October 2009

Leprosy Mailing List, September 14th, 2009

Ref.: 27th IAL Conference, New Delhi , India , 2-4 October 2009

From: Ganapati R., Mumbai , India


Dear Dr Noto,


I request you to draw the attention of the readers of LML all over the world to an important scientific event which is to take place in New Delhi , India on

2-4 October 2009.


The Indian Association of Leprologists (IAL) the only academic body totally devoted to leprosy for over half a century, is holding its 27th Biennial Conference. India , which has the dubious distinction of contributing to the global leprosy burden to the maximum extent is also known for its rich heritage of scientific contributions by stalwarts in the subject. IAL represents the cream of such experts.


The conference is expected to provide a varitable scientific feast. Readers may: -

1.)

refer to the website www.indianleprologists.org or;

2.)

contact Dr (Prof.) HK Kar, Organizing Chairperson at email: hkkar_2000(at)yahoo.com

Thanks.

With regards,

Dr R Ganapati
Past President, IAL
Director Emeritus, Bombay Leprosy Project