Sensitivity Of Fluorescent Microscopy In Detecting Mycobacterium Leprae In Tissue Sections

Detection of Mycobacterium leprae in tissue sections by Modified Fitefaraco method was compared with the sensitivity of fluorescence microscopy in tissue sections .AuramineRhodamine fluorescent stain as recommended by Kuper & May’s was used with minor alterations in deparaffinization to obtain optimal fluorescence. Out of 70 biopsies studied, 63 showed organisms by fluorescent method and 16 showed organisms by modified Fite -faraco method. We found that fluorescent stain was superior to modified Fitefaraco in detecting leprae bacilli in tissue sections particularly in paucibacillary cases where bacillary load is much low. The speed of observation and rapidity of finding the bacilli by fluorescent microscopy also reduced observer’s fatigue. Hence fluorescent microscopy can be used as a main tool to detect the bacilli in paucibacillary cases.