Abstract
Drug sensitivity was examined using semi-synthetic liquid media on two strains of M. leprae isolated from nodules of L-type leprosy patients. The results revealed that L-Ju1-74-1 strain was sensitive to both DDS and Rifampicin, and L-Feb-75 strain was senstitive to all of DDS, Rifampicin and Isoniazed. According to the informations of the leprosaria, to which the host patients of these strains belong, the adiministration of DDS to the former case and Rifampicin to the latter, respectively, resulted in the rapid and remarkable improvement of clinical symptomes, in good agreement with the above mentioned test results. It was revealed, further, that the drug sensitivity of M. leprae could be determined by this in vitro test method as early as about 3 months' incubation at 37°C. Drug sensitivity test using liquid culture media will facilitate the selection of adequate drugs to be administered to the concerned leprosy patients.
