• Angela Marques Barbosa, Suelen Umbelino da Silva, Ana Clara Campagnolo Gonçalves Toledo, and AbreuMarilda Aparecida Milanez Morgado deMAMM0000-0001-9099-6013Universidade do Oeste Paulista - Presidente Prudente (SP), Brazil..
• Universidade do Oeste Paulista - Presidente Prudente (SP), Brazil.
• Rev Assoc Med Bras (1992). 2022 Jan 1; 68 (10): 138913931389-1393.

ObjectiveLeprosy is a disabling infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of leprosy among household contacts of leprosy patients.MethodsThis study is a serological survey in household contacts of leprosy patients who had been treated or were undergoing treatment in the city of Presidente Prudente, São Paulo, Brazil, from 2006-2016, using clinical examination and screening for anti- Phenolic glycolipid-I antibodies with Mycobacterium leprae-flow serology.ResultsA total of 263 index cases of leprosy were identified during the study period. Of these, 53 were approached, and among their household contacts, 108 were examined. The ML-flow test was positive in 2 (1.85%) individuals, but clinical examination revealed no signs or symptoms of leprosy in them. Therefore, they were considered to have a subclinical infection. Leprosy was not confirmed in any household contacts. In this study, a lower percentage of household contacts, when compared to that in the literature, had a positive Mycobacterium leprae-flow test result.ConclusionThe use of Mycobacterium leprae-flow should be encouraged during the follow-up of at-risk populations, such as the household contacts of leprosy patients.

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