Leprosy is a neglected chronic infection caused by Mycobacterium leprae, that is curable. The magnitude of the disease and severity of the debilitation it causes renders leprosy a public health problem. This study aimed to analyze the endemic profile of leprosy in the Murrupula district and evaluate the socioeconomic, clinical, and serological profiles of leprosy contacts. A cross-sectional study of patients with leprosy diagnosed between 2013 and 2017 and their household and community contacts was conducted in Murrupula District, Nampula Province, Mozambique. Interviews, simplified dermatoneurological examinations, Mycobacterium leprae flow (ML Flow) tests, and Mitsuda tests were performed. Most of the leprosy cases were multibacillary. The patients had some degree of physical disability. ML Flow positivity was more common in household contacts of the patients diagnosed with leprosy and in community individuals who spontaneously presented for testing. In total, 17 patients were diagnosed with leprosy. This study revealed an active chain of transmission, hidden prevalence, and operational deficiencies in leprosy surveillance and care. The results suggest that the implementation of a public health policy for leprosy prevention and control in Nampula Province is necessary. In future, the possibility of expanding the policy to the entire country should be considered.

Background: Leprosy remains a significant public health problem of high importance. This investigation aims to analyze the spatial distribution of the leprosy epidemiological risk in the municipalities of Minas Gerais. Methods: This ecological study was conducted with new leprosy cases diagnosed from 2004 to 2019 in the municipalities of the state of Minas Gerais. Based on the epidemiological indicators, a composite indicator called the leprosy epidemiological risk index was estimated, classifying municipalities as high, medium, low and very low risk. For the spatial analysis, the global and local spatial autocorrelation statistics were used to identify the spatial distribution of the leprosy epidemiological risk in the periods 2004–2011 and 2012–2019 and classified as High/High, Low/Low, High/Low and Low /High. Results: Although leprosy is declining in the state of Minas Gerais, the Global Moran Index confirmed the spatial dependence between municipalities for the two analyzed periods, characterizing the formation of clusters. When performing the local spatial autocorrelation, it was found that the macroregions with the highest number of municipalities with high indices, surrounded by other municipalities with high indices (high-high), were Northwest, East, South East, North, and Northeast. The low risk macroregions were Southeast, Center, South-Center and South. Conclusion: Leprosy has a heterogeneous spatial pattern and remains concentrated in historically endemic areas of the state. It underscores the importance of intensifying actions to combat leprosy in these municipalities and macroregions. Promote improved access to health services and combat stigma and prejudice to eliminate leprosy as a public health problem.

Leprosy, a chronic disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, continues to be a significant public health challenge in Brazil, which has a high rate of new cases and late diagnoses. This study investigates the relationship between Primary Health Care (PHC) and Family Health Strategy (FHS) coverage and leprosy detection in Minas Gerais, a state marked by heterogeneity in the distribution of the disease. This observational and ecological study analyzed data from 2010 to 2020, which were obtained from the Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN) and the EGESTOR-AB portal. Using statistical methods, such as Pearson’s correlation and Prais–Winsten Linear Regression, trends and associations between coverage variables and leprosy indicators were assessed. This study found that PHC and FHS coverage expansion in Minas Gerais was not directly associated with a uniform reduction in late leprosy diagnosis. The findings indicate that the expansion of PHC and the FHS has not been accompanied by a homogeneous reduction in late diagnoses. It is therefore recommended that active surveillance actions be strengthened, that teams be continuously trained, and that strategies recommended by the WHO be integrated.

Various techniques have been used for the molecular identification of Mycobacterium leprae (M. leprae). The aim of this review was to identify the relationship between the molecular presence of M. leprae and the process of infection and/or illness of contact of leprosy cases. A systematic review was carried out by searching the Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE), Cochrane Library, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science and the Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature (LILACS) databases in January 2024. The studies were selected by two pairs of reviewers. Observational cross-sectional, case–control and cohort studies were included. A descriptive synthesis of the results by category was carried out. A total of 443 studies were identified, and 36 were included in the review. Twelve molecular targets were tested to identify the presence of the bacillus. A relationship was established between the identification of M. leprae DNA and factors related to the index case, housing characteristics, living conditions, epidemiology and anti-PGL-1 serology. None of the studies identified evaluated the molecular viability of M. leprae among contacts. The detection of M. leprae DNA alone does not necessarily predict the development of infection or clinical illness among contacts.

Background/Objectives: Leprosy remains a global public health challenge, especially in hyperendemic areas, where spatial, socioeconomic and serological factors influence its persistence. In this study, an integrative review was carried out to analyze the relationship between these factors and the prevalence of Mycobacterium leprae infection, as well as the risk of falling ill. Methods: The integrative search was conducted in the BVS (Medline and LILACS) and Scopus databases, including studies published between 2010 and 2024; PRISMA was followed. Results: The findings indicate that spatial analysis, using geographic information systems, is essential for identifying transmission clusters and targeting control strategies. Poor socioeconomic conditions, such as low income and inadequate sanitation, significantly increase the risk of infection. In addition, serology, especially the detection of Anti-PGL-1 antibodies, has proved to be a promising tool for tracking subclinical infections and improving epidemiological surveillance. However, the integration of spatial, social and serological factors is still limited in the literature. Conclusions: We conclude that multidisciplinary approaches, combining spatial, socioeconomic and serological factors, are fundamental to optimizing control strategies and reducing leprosy transmission in vulnerable populations.

Objective: To verify the completeness and consistency of information regarding patients diagnosed with leprosy and registered in the Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação (Sinan). Method: Descriptive, quantitative, and cross-sectional ecological study conducted in three stages. The study population comprised leprosy cases registered in the Sinan database during the study period (2017 to 2021). Data extracted from secondary databases were entered into a database created in Microsoft Excel software (version 2016) for completeness and consistency analysis. Results: A total of 6,568 leprosy cases were reported in Minas Gerais, with a completeness percentage of 91.4%. Regarding consistency, the percentage was 93.3%. Analyzing the Regional Health Units, it was observed that Belo Horizonte showed a "Precarious" percentage across all three levels of health care for completeness and consistency variables, indicating potential weaknesses in reference services. Conclusion: Regardless of the level of health care, the state and its Regional Health Units showed heterogeneous completeness and consistency percentages, with the state classified as "Regular" and "Good," respectively, after applying the quartile distribution.