Immunoreactivity of a mammalian liver component with leprosy sera

Sera from 77 leprosy patients in various stages of infection--tuberculoid (TT), lepromatous (LL), borderline tuberculoid and borderline lepromatous--15 contacts and 21 normal healthy individuals, were assayed in an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and dot enzyme immunoassay using ethanol-soluble and thermostable extract of liver as the antigen. The highest incidences of reaction were found in untreated LL patients (100%) and in TT patients (91%), while the sera from borderline patients showed a comparatively lower incidence (43%). Some of the sera from contacts of leprosy patients (6/15) also showed high reactivity. Assays using lecithin as an antigen did not exhibit any reaction.