Bacterial infections: the arthritis of leprosy

Recent advances in gold nanoparticle-based lateral flow immunoassay for the detection of bacterial infection

Diagnosis of bacterial infections (BI) is becoming an increasingly difficult task in clinical practice due to their high prevalence and frequency, as well as the growth of antibiotic resistance worldwide. World Health Organization (WHO) reported antibiotic resistance is a major public health problem. BI becomes difficult or impossible to treat when the bacteria acquire immunity against antibiotics. Thus, there is a need for a quick and accurate technique to detect infection. Lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) is an ideal technique for point-of-care testing of a disease or pathological changes inside the human body. In recent years, several LFIA based strips are being used for the detection of BI by targeting specific analytes which may range from the causative bacterium, whole-cell, DNA, or biomarker. Numerous nanoparticles like lipid-based nanoparticles, polymeric nanoparticles, and inorganic nanoparticles such as quantum dots, magnetic, ceramic, and metallic nanoparticles (copper, silver gold, iron) are widely being used in the advanced treatment of BI. Out of these gold nanoparticle (AuNPs), is being used for detection BI more effectively than other nanoparticles due to their surface functionalization, extraordinary chemical stability, biorecognition, and signal amplification properties and help to improve in conjugation with capture antibodies, and act as a color marker with unique optical properties on LFIA strips. Herein, a review that provides an overview of the principle of LFIA, how LFIA based strip is developed, and how it is helpful to detect a specific biomarker for bedside detection of the BI.

Subcutaneous nodules and joint deformity in leprosy: case report and review

Leprosy (Hansen's disease), known to be caused by Mycobacterium leprae, is a well-known illness with multiple rheumatologic manifestations. This chronic granulomatous infection has clinical features that are variable, depending on the immune response of the host. Manifestations consist mainly of involvement of the peripheral nerves, skin, upper respiratory system, eyes, and testes, as well as joints. Musculoskeletal manifestations include arthralgias, arthritis, Charcot arthropathy, and positive autoantibodies. We report a case of a Puerto Rican-born woman who was living within the northeastern United States and had subcutaneous nodules, saddle nose deformity, and painless contractures of her fingers and toes. This case illustrates some of the musculoskeletal manifestations of leprosy to raise awareness of this disease as part of the differential diagnosis of articular abnormalities with subcutaneous nodules in a nonendemic country.

First report of leprosy presenting as acute polyarthritis in the setting of type I downgrading lepra reaction

Leprosy is a rare cause of acute polyarthritis. We describe the occurrence of oedema of the hands and feet and acute polyarthritis in the setting of type I (downgrading) lepra reaction in an untreated patient with borderline leprosy. This case report further expands the range of articular manifestations that can occur in leprosy.

Remitting seronegative symmetrical synovitis with pitting edema in leprosy

A 67-year-old man, who had widespread and well-defined erythematous violaceous hyperkeratotic plaques on his skin, was diagnosed with borderline tuberculoid leprosy. The patient began treatment with clofazimine, rifampicin, and dapsone, but 15 days afterwards he complained of acral edema with godet sign. Magnetic resonance imaging was done, and the case was interpreted as remitting seronegative symmetrical synovitis with pitting edema. About 8 mg/day of methylprednisolone were started with excellent response.