Bacillemia and Its Relationship with Bacteriological Index in Leprosy

Detection of bacillemia in 40 untreated cases of leprosy was carried out by buffy coat. haemolysis and Petroff's concentration method. Bacillemiawas detected in 17 (42.5%) cases by Petroff's method. Out of 20 LL-BL cases, it was positive in 16 (80%) patients. Petroff's and haemolysis methods revealed bacillemia in 100% and 90% of LL cases respectively. The Petroff's method of concentration was found superior over the other techniques for better detection and quantitatioxi of bacffemia. A significant relationship between the bacillary load (BI) in the skin and the degree of bacillemia was observed especially in the lepromatous part of the spectrum of the dise4se.