Through detection of infected individuals and subsequent prophylactic treatment the researchers aim to be able to avoid leprosy ever becoming manifest in their lives.
Novel interventions and diagnostic tests for leprosy
Project Coordination
Erasmus MC, University Medical Center and Leiden University Medical Center, Netherlands
Partners
The Leprosy Mission International, Bangladesh (TLMIB)
Project summary
Leprosy is an infectious disease caused by a bacterium (Mycobacterium leprae), which mainly occurs among the poorest populations in developing countries. Although a combination of antibiotics (multidrug therapy) is very effective at curing clinical leprosy, it is insufficient to reduce transmission of M. leprae in endemic populations as witnessed by stable new case detection rates in many countries where leprosy occurs. Contact with M. leprae infected individuals is a risk factor for development of leprosy. Individuals who are infected but do not show any clinical signs (yet) can transmit the bacterium to other people. Prophylactic treatment of those individuals who may otherwise develop leprosy will thus prevent transmission and new cases of leprosy possibly leading to life-long disabilities in many of these people. It is therefore important to identify and treat M. leprae infected individuals effectively.
The researchers showed in the past that a single dose of rifampicin (SDR), a key antibiotic that is also used for the treatment of leprosy, can prevent the occurrence of leprosy in over 50% of the contacts of leprosy patients. It is a safe, easy and cheap intervention. In a large study preceding the current research proposal, they studied if BCG, a vaccine commonly used to prevent tuberculosis, in combination with SDR, could even better protect contacts of leprosy patients against leprosy.
In this study the researchers aim to determine the effect of BCG,BCG combined with SDR or SDR alone on reduction of new cases as well as on reduction of infection in contacts of leprosy patients. Furthermore, they will assess the effect of the interventions on the level of M. leprae infection of contacts by using a low-complexity test (similar to a glucose dipstick or a pregnancy test) that can detect markers in blood that are associated with M.leprae infection.
Through this project they will:
- Evaluate the effect of BCG and SDR on the development of leprosy
- Evaluate the efficacy and feasibility to implement the user-friendly test for detection of infection
Through detection of infected individuals and subsequent prophylactic treatment they will be able to avoid leprosy ever becoming manifest in their lives. In a larger context, the tools will help to reduce the occurrence of leprosy world-wide.
Budget LRI (this is a contribution to the total costs of this project)
€225,000
Project number: 707.19.02
Funding partner
Turing Foundation
