The Carbol Fuchsin Staining of Mycobacteria in Leprosy Institutes of Southeast Asia and Japan Especially the Effect of "Basic Fuchsin" used in the Carbol Fuchsin Formula

• Published in: Japanese journal of leprosy Vol. 49; no. 4; pp. 183 - 189
• Main Authors: HARADA, KIYOSHI, GIDOH, MASASHI, TSUTSUMI, SADAE
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Japanese
• Published: Japan Japanese Leprosy Association 01.10.1980
• Subjects: Asia, Southeastern; Japan; Mycobacterium - cytology; Mycobacterium leprae - cytology; Rosaniline Dyes; Staining and Labeling - methods; Asia, Southeastern; Japan
• DOI: 10.5025/hansen1977.49.183
• ISSN: 0386-3980

We analysed the staining effect of carbol fuchsin, especially the composition of basic fuch sin present in the carbol fuchsin formula which is used in the leprosy institutes in Southeast Asia and Japan. The classic carbol fuchsin stain is unstable for demonstrating leprosy bacilli. The carbol fuchsin stain using the basic fuchsin with low absorption maximum (Pararosanilin) shows beaded staining bacilli in contrast to roded staining bacilli with high absorbance basic fuchsin. Different institutes use different staining methods-hot or cold-with basic fuchsin having, an absorption maximum varying 546 to 556μm and different decolorizers with varying decolorizing times. Therefore, it is difficult to give a constant result of the bacterial and morphological index in different institutes. Accordingly, the classic carbol fuchsin staining technique is not sufficient for estimating the stop of treatment and for considering the patients as non-infectious. It is essential to standardize the staining procedure by adapting basic fuchsin with high absorbance for the assesment of the bacterial and morphological index of the leprosy bacilli. Moreover, the problem lies on the present of chromophobic bacilli that does not stain by the classic carbol fuchsin stain. In this instance the periodic acid-carbol pararosanilin stain is the most reliable and preferable method.