Comparison in leprosy patients of Fernandex and Mitsuda reactions using human and armadillo antigens. A double-blind study.

The Mitsuda and Fernandez reactions to bacilli prepared from lesions of human patients and bacilli from infected armadillos were studied in 112 leprosy patients. It was observed that there is no substantial difference when armadillo lepromin is used instead of human lepromin except that a larger induration occurs with the use of the armadillo lepromin in a majority of cases. The number of those reporting a burning sensation at the armadillo lepromin injection site was slightly higher in lepromatous patients; whereas the burning sensation was observed at the human lepromin injection site by the tuberculoid cases. With the significant information compiled in this study, it is concluded that lepromin prepared from bacilli obtained from infected armadillos is as effective as that prepared from bacilli obtained from the lesions of leprosy patients.