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Response to Article “Coinfection with Leprosy and Tuberculosis: A Case Series in Malagasy Patients” [Letter]
Authors Sari NIP , Handayani S
Received 17 April 2024
Accepted for publication 25 April 2024
Published 29 April 2024 Volume 2024:17 Pages 1675—1676
DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/IDR.S474246
Checked for plagiarism Yes
Editor who approved publication: Professor Suresh Antony
Nastiti Intan Permata Sari, Sarwo Handayani
Center for Biomedical Research, Research Organization for Health, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Cibinong Science Centre, Bogor, West Java, Indonesia
Correspondence: Nastiti Intan Permata Sari, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Cibinong Science Centre, Jl. Raya Jakarta - Bogor Km. 46, Cibinong, Bogor, West Java, Indonesia, Email [email protected]; [email protected]
View the original paper by Dr Rakotoarisaona and colleagues
Dear editor
We congratulate Rakotoarisaona et al for successfully conducting research in Madagascar studying the case series of coinfection with leprosy and tuberculosis which is important for understanding the oldest and most common mycobacterial infections. Findings from this study show good information of clinical cases in Malagasy patients, there were six cases of leprosy and tuberculosis coinfection.1
However, after reviewing this research carefully, we suggest adding the serology data to confirm those infections. Serological testing are valid, cheap, and more sensitive diagnosis of leprosy so there is definitely data.2 The serology test using PGL-1 which is a specific antigen of Mycobacterium leprae that infected leprosy patients.3
Other research shows the bacteriological data of tuberculosis also having culturing data, because culturing is a gold standard in Mycobacterium tuberculosis diagnosis for tuberculosis infection,4 so this data needs to be added in the discussion.
We sincerely thank you for your concern and look forward to continued efforts in mycobacterial coinfection research one day.
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to acknowledge all the researchers and Prof. Dr. Sunarno in the Center for Biomedical Research BRIN for their continuous support. The authors would also like to convey gratitude to the research team of Rakotoarisaona et al for their valuable research report.
Disclosure
The authors have disclosed that there are no conflicts of interest in this communication.
References
1. Rakotoarisaona MF, Razafimaharo TI, Sendrasoa FA, et al. Coinfection with leprosy and tuberculosis: a case series in Malagasy patients. Infect Drug Resist. 2024;17:1507–1513. doi:10.2147/IDR.S458888
2. Longoni SS, Beltrame A, Prato M, et al. ELISA test based on the phenolic glycolipid-I (PGL-I) of Mycobacterium leprae: a reality of a laboratory from a non-endemic country. Pathogens. 2022;11(8):894. doi:10.3390/pathogens11080894
3. Chen KH, Lin CY, Su SB, et al. Leprosy: a review of epidemiology, clinical diagnosis, and management. J Trop Med. 2022;13. doi:10.1155/2022/8652062
4. Susilawati TN, Larasati R. A recent update of the diagnostic methods for tuberculosis and their applicability in Indonesia: a narrative review. Med J Indonesia. 2019;28(3):284–291. doi:10.13181/mji.v28i3.2589
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