Research Article 2026-04-21 under-review v1

Assessing improved surveillance of leprosy drug resistance in Madagascar: A pilot study in the Miandrivazo district

L
Luca MAHARAVO Centre d’Infectiologie Charles Mérieux
S
Stéphanie Ramboarina Raoul Follereau Foundation
S
Sofie Marijke Braet Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp
P
Paul Corstjens Leiden University Medical Center
D
Danielle de Jong Leiden University Medical Center
A
Andriamira Randrianantoandro National Leprosy Program
L
Lovasoa Mbolamanana Joseph Andrianiriana National Leprosy Program
M
Mala Rakoto Andrianarivelo Centre d’Infectiologie Charles Mérieux
J
Jean Luc Berland Fondation Mérieux
E
Emmanuelle Cambau INSERM, IAME UMR1137, Université de Paris Cité 75018
P
Philip Supply Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019–UMR 9017, Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille
A
Agathe Jouet Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019–UMR 9017, Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille
E
Epco Hasker Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp
B
Bouke Catherine de Jong Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp
B
Bertrand Cauchoix Raoul Follereau Foundation
T
Tahinamandranto Rasamoelina Centre d’Infectiologie Charles Mérieux
L
Luc Hervé Samison Centre d’Infectiologie Charles Mérieux
A
Annemieke Geluk Leiden University Medical Center

Abstract

Background: To curb the emergence of antibiotic-resistant Mycobacterium leprae strains, the WHO recommends monitoring of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). In Madagascar, molecular surveillance of resistance to anti-M. leprae drugs, remains limited geographically and in terms of quantitative data. A clinical trial on leprosy prophylaxis (PEOPLE) conducted in the district of Miandrivazo provided an opportunity to explore the feasibility of an integrated approach for improving leprosy surveillance and resistance monitoring in Madagascar. This study aimed to i) determine the genetic diversity of the identified M. leprae strains, (ii) detect mutations associated with AMR, (iii) evaluate and compare the acceptance rate of low-invasive sampling methods with that of skin biopsies, and (iv) assess seropositivity for anti-M. leprae PGL-I IgM. Methods: Patients were identified through door-to-door screening and skin biopsies (SB), fingerstick blood (FSB) and nasal swabs (NS) were collected. SB were analyzed by RLEP qPCR for detection of M. leprae DNA, resistance testing using LiPA (Line Probe Assay), and resistance analysis and SNP and/or VNTR genotyping using Sanger sequencing and Deeplex Myc-Lep. NS and FSB samples were used to detect bacterial colonization by RLEP qPCR and detect past and/or present infection by measuring anti-M. leprae PGL-I IgM levels. Results: 80 leprosy patients were identified, including 41 multibacillary and 39 paucibacillary. Out of these, 57 accepted NS, 47 FSB, and 33 SB. High levels of anti-PGL-I IgM were detected in 6/47 FSB samples. RLEP qPCR was positive in 4/57 NS samples and 28/33 SB samples. Among SB positive, 12 yielded interpretable results when combining data from LiPA, Deeplex Myc-Lep, and Sanger sequencing. No drug resistance conferring mutations were detected. All strains belonged to the 1D-Malagasy genotype, and VNTR analysis for 7 samples with results available across 9 loci showed 7 unique types, with loci GAA21, GTA9, and AC8a were the most informative for strain differentiation. Conclusion: Despite the small sample size, this study shows that NS and FSB samples are well accepted in patients. No mutations conferring resistance were identified and the M. leprae strains belong to the 1D-Malagasy genotype. These findings support the feasibility of field-based molecular surveillance and provide a foundation for expanding AMR monitoring in Madagascar.

Citation Information

@article{lucamaharavo2026,
  title={Assessing improved surveillance of leprosy drug resistance in Madagascar: A pilot study in the Miandrivazo district},
  author={Luca MAHARAVO and Stéphanie Ramboarina and Sofie Marijke Braet and Paul Corstjens and Danielle de Jong and Andriamira Randrianantoandro and Lovasoa Mbolamanana Joseph Andrianiriana and Mala Rakoto Andrianarivelo and Jean Luc Berland and Emmanuelle Cambau and Philip Supply and Agathe Jouet and Epco Hasker and Bouke Catherine de Jong and Bertrand Cauchoix and Tahinamandranto Rasamoelina and Luc Hervé Samison and Annemieke Geluk},
  journal={Mycobacteria},
  year={2026},
  doi={https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-9335540/v1}
}
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