A reverse transcription (RT)-PCR assay targeting the 16S rRNA of Mycobacterium leprae was developed to detect the organism in clinical specimens. A 171-bp fragment was amplified when M. leprae RNA was used as a template but not when a panel of RNAs from 28 potentially cross-reacting mycobacterial species, seven genera related to Mycobacterium, and three organisms normally found among skin or no...

A 60-year-old woman presented with a painful lump of 4 months duration in her right breast. She denied any history of breast trauma or family history of breast cancer. Physical examination detected a firm, tender mass in the upper inner quadrant of her right breast without an associated sinus tract. Cytology from fine-needle aspiration of the swelling showed epithelioid cells, lymphohistocytic ...

Abdominal tuberculosis is a common clinical entity in Indian subcontinent; however, hepatic tuberculosis in the absence of miliary abdominal tuberculosis is restricted to the case reports and small case series in English literature. It mimics common liver diseases like liver abscess and tumors. We report a case of 25-year-old immunocompetent female who presented with features of acute liver fai...

IntRoductIon Leprosy caused by Mycobacterium leprae (M. leprae), is a chronic granulomatous disease affecting the skin and peripheral nervous system, which is transmitted through direct contact with nontreated or inadequate treatment patients.[1] Diagnosis of leprosy depends on the clinical signs and symptoms and slit skin smear positivity. However, it’s sometimes similar with other granulomato...

Diffuse global granulomatous glomerulonephritis with unique morphological characters was detected in a pig. The structure of the basement membrane of glomerular tufts was destroyed in almost all glomeruli. Various inflammatory cells consisted mainly of macrophages infiltrated severely into the glomerular tuft and the Bowman's space of and extended to the periglomerular interstitium. Periarterit...

Inflammation of subcutaneous tissue (panniculitis) may occur in association with tuberculosis, but so far only three cases of non-tuberculous mycobacteria-related lobular panniculitis have been reported. We describe two new cases with marked cellular immunity failure due to hypercorticism. Clinical presentation did not differ significantly from lobular panniculitis of other aetiologies. Histolo...

In these studies, metabolically active Mycobacterium leprae were maintained for as long as 8 weeks in monolayer cultures of mouse peritoneal macrophages (MPhi). Supplemental IL-10, but not TGF-beta, bolstered, directly or indirectly, M. leprae metabolism in mouse MPhi. In the cell culture system temperature setting is extremely important and 31 to 33 degrees C incubation temperature was more pe...