The aim of this study was to investigate sensitivity disorders in the oral cavity related to the presence of
Mycobacterium leprae
in the saliva of treatment-naïve patients with leprosy in the state of Amazonas, Brazil. A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 45 subjects with leprosy. The subjects were interviewed to evaluate the sensitivity of the oral cavity. For the detection of
M. leprae, saliva and slit-skin smear samples were collected. The samples were analysed using a bacteriological index
(BI) protocol and the real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction
(qPCR). The results indicated that 15 of the 45 (33.3%) subjects with leprosy showed decreased oral sensitivity, which confirmed the importance of the oral cavity sensitivity evaluation. There was not a direct relationship between the presence of
M. leprae in saliva and changes in oral sensitivity. Positive saliva qPCR results from six (31.6%) of 19 paucibacillary
(PB) patients suggested the possibility of a new site for sample collection. Positive results using these diagnostic techniques (
BI, slit-skin smear and saliva
qPCR) increased to 55.5%, thus opening the possibility of combining these different techniques to increase the rate of positive diagnoses, especially in
PB patients.
