Egret Publishing Inc. August
2002
Many PCR methods have been
developed and published, with different performances. The one used by the
Provincial Laboratory in my case, developed by D. Williams and associates, gives
positive signal at 100 bacteria but not at 10. wil There are others, claimed by its authors
to be more sensitive and just as specific. According to Polymerase Chain
Reaction for the Detection of Mycobacterium leprae by Rudy A. Hartskeerl et al,
M. leprae could be detected specifically with a detection limit approximating
one bacterium. har Most
methods have detection limits at 10 bacteria and up. The one used by the
Provincial Laboratory is the least sensitive of the lot. The report from the
Provincial Laboratory stated that it was for research purposes only. Most
paucibacillary such as tuberculoid patients diagnosed of Hansen’s disease did
not test positive for Hansen’s bacterium by means of PCR (with detection limit
of 10 bacteria). Some were diagnosed clinically and some were diagnosed
histopathologically. job
PCR
methods are several hundred times more sensitive than the conventional
microscopic method but it is still not sensitive enough to accomplish the task,
detecting Hansen’s bacterium present in small number. I was misled by the
overblown optimism of some authors, until I found some papers, describing
PCR methods (see Section One) in practice, regarding detection of Hansen’s
bacterium in paucibacillary patients. Before the advent of PCR methods, it would
be almost impossible to observe Hansen’s bacterium in the case of tuberculoid
Hansen’s disease (by the conventional staining-microscopic technique). The link
between tuberculoid and Hansen’s bacterium might have been accomplished by
analogy. Tuberculoid type was similar to other types of Hansen’ disease, which
were linked to Hansen’s bacterium. Therefore tuberculoid must be linked to
Hansen’s bacterium as well. Results of antibiotics treatments of tuberculoid
patients may have confirmed the assumption.
Most cases of tuberculoid
Hansen’s disease are diagnosed by means of clinical and histopathological
methods. Clinical and histopathologic methods are more sensitive than PCR
methods as far as tuberculoid or paucibacillary cases are
concerned.
At
this stage of development, PCR methods may not be able to detect Hansen’s
bacterium in ALS patients if it is present. Mass-spectrometric methods are yet
to be developed. The best bet is to emulate diagnosis of paucibacillary cases
such as tuberculoid Hansen’s disease.
In
similar way, this can be done in the cases of ALS and tuberculoid Hansen’s
disease, considering the similarity of their symptoms, such as foot drop, cramp,
spasm and muscle weakness. Most ALS patients have difficulty in swallowing.
Lepromatous type of Hansen’s disease can cause throat problems such as
difficulty in swallowing (source: conversation with the infectious disease
specialist). The observation of the antigens of Hansen’s bacterium in the
central nervous system of Hansen’s disease patients (see Notes and Comments #2)
indicates the central nervous system can be afflicted by the pathogen. If
antibiotics stop ALS, it will be an evidence to support the argument that ALS is
caused by infection. As analytical techniques, such as PCR and
mass-spectrometric methods, are improved, Hansen’s bacterium will be detected in
ALS patients.
Minocycline and tetracycline
are used to treat acne but have they identified the pathogen causing the
problem? These drugs work on acne in practice and also work in cases of Hansen’s
disease. Acne is not a life-threatening condition. I am suffering from something
(ALS?), which may lead to serious or life-threatening
situations.
Recently I visited an eye
doctor. In the waiting room, a few elderly ladies were engaged in animated
conversation, about the deaths and of what diseases of their friends and
relatives. One lady said, “After so much expenses and time for research, all
those diseases are still incurable.” It looks like that ordinary people are
beginning to wonder. If one is looking for oranges in a lemon grove, he will not
find it. Researchers may be searching in the wrong place. Big increases in the
numbers of cases of these diseases indicate infection as a probable
cause.
In
view of increasing number of people suffering from incurable diseases, there
should be no stones left unturned. All probable causes of the diseases should be
investigated. The attitude of the medical authorities seems very strange,
regarding infection as a cause of these diseases. The lack of curiosity is
amazing.
Ching-Chee Chan,
PhD
August 2,
2002
wil. Williams DL, Gillis TP,
Booth RJ, Looker D and Watson JD. The use of a specific DNA and polymerase chain
reaction for the detection of Mycobacterium leprae. JID 1990; 162 (July):
193-200.
har. Hartskeerl RA, De Wit
MYL and Klatser PR. Polymerase chain reaction for the detection of Mycobacterium
leprae. Journal of General Microbiology 1989; 135 (September):
2357-2364.
job. Job CK, Jayakumar J, Williams DL and Gillis TP. Role of Polymerase Chain Reaction in the Diagnosis of Early Leprosy. Int J Lepr 1997; 65(4): 461-464.
Readers are welcome to e-mail me to discuss relevant
problems.
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