LEPROMIN RESPONSES IN RECIPIENTS OE A CANDIDATE ANTILEPROSY BACTERIN VACCINE (WHO-IMMLEP MYCOBACTERIUM LEPRAE KILLED PREPARATION) IN THE USA |
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| Authors: | WOJCIECH A KROTOSKI MD PhD MPH TOMASZ E MROCZKOWSKI MD PhD EDWARD J SHANNON Ph D LARRY E MILLIKAN MD RITA M SANCHEZ BS ROBERT C HASTINGS MD PhD |
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| Institution: | From the Laboratory Research Branch, Gillis W. Long Hansen's Disease Center, Carville, Louisiana, and the Department of Dermatology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana. |
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| Abstract: | Background. Identification of the nine-banded armadillo as a potential source of massive numbers of Mycobacterium leprae led to the development of a candidate bacterin vaccine for possible immunoprophylaxis. Methods. Volunteers were from a leprosy-hypoendemic, nonBCG-using area (USA). They had been vaccinated intradermally 3 years earlier with a candidate antileprosy bacterin vaccine of irradiated and autoclaved Mycobacterium leprae obtained from experimental nine-banded armadillos. They were tested for dermal responsiveness to standard lepromin A. Results. Values for induration and erythema appeared slightly greater for the vaccinated group; however, the differences were not statistically significant, indicating no appreciable ‘anamnestic’ effect on either Fernandez (early) or Mitsuda (late) reactions after 3 years. Conclusions. Because previous studies had demonstrated that administration of this bacterin produced no humoral changes, it now appears less probable that laboratory methods will be of much help in assessing even possible effectiveness of such vaccination. |
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