Prevalence of secondary dapsone-resistant leprosy in Upper Volta

Abstract

A secondary dapsone-resistance survey was performed in 3 health sectors of Upper Volta in 1981-82, among a total population of 994 lepromatous patients. Prevalence of secondary dapsone resistance was found to be 7,4 and 1% respectively. Analysis of the results reveals that considerable loss of viability of Mycobacterium leprae occurred in the specimens during transportation and was much more pronounced in the 2 sectors with the lower dapsone-resistance prevalence figures. It is therefore strongly suspected that the 7% prevalence is also representative of the sectors where the low prevalence figures were found. For other reasons discussed, the 7% figure must in its turn be a minimum.