What type of pathogen is leprosy

Priorities for research in leprosy today include genetic probes for molecular epidemiology, and new immunologic tests for early detection of leprosy before nerve damage occurs. The goals are to provide evidence on routes of transmission and incubation periods and to develop new tools to prevent and, ultimately, eradicate leprosy. Organization History.

Visitor Information Contact Us. Leprosy Hansen's Disease Basic Research. Basic Research NIAID-funded investigators are developing the armadillo as a research animal model for human leprosy and developing improved skin test antigens to detect leprosy.

Read more about leprosy basic research. Read more about leprosy transmission. Author information Article notes Copyright and License information Disclaimer. Received May 25; Accepted Jul Bhat and C. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

This article has been cited by other articles in PMC. Abstract Leprosy, also known as Hansen's disease, is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae , a microorganism that has a predilection for the skin and nerves. Introduction Leprosy, also known as Hansen's disease, is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae , a microorganism that has a predilection for the skin and nerves. Mycobacterium leprae M. Genetic Determinants of Host Response Human genetic factors influence the acquisition of leprosy and the clinical course of disease [ 12 ].

Transmission Two exit routes of M. Incubation Period Measuring the incubation period in leprosy is difficult because of the lack of adequate immunological tools and slow onset of the disease.

Risk Factors Those living in endemic areas with poor conditions such as inadequate bedding, contaminated water, and insufficient diet, or other diseases that compromise immune function are at highest risk for acquiring M. Interaction of M. Disease Classification Leprosy is classified within two poles of the disease with transition between the clinical forms [ 42 ]. Clinical Features Table 1 Table 1 Clinical features of leprosy. Open in a separate window. Indeterminate Leprosy Indeterminate I is a prelude to the determinate forms of leprosy [ 44 , 45 ].

Polyneuritic Leprosy Manifesting with only neural signs without any evidence of skin lesions, polyneuritic leprosy mostly well recognized in the Indian subcontinent. Histoid Leprosy Histoid leprosy is relatively uncommon, distinct clinical, and bacteriologic and histopathologic expression of multibacillary leprosy [ 47 ]. Leprosy Reactions Leprosy reactions are the acute episodes of clinical inflammation occurring during the chronic course of disease.

Immunology of Leprosy Reactions Type I reaction is a naturally occurring delayed-type hypersensitivity response to M. References 1. Hansen GHA. Investigations concerning the etiology of leprosy. Irgens LM. The discovery of the leprosy bacillus. Tidsskrift for den Norske Laegeforening. Fine PEM. Global leprosy statistics: a cause for pride, or frustration? Leprosy Review.

Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium leprae murium infections in domestic and wild animals. Clinical Microbiology Reviews. The Mycobacteria: an introduction to nomenclature and pathogenesis. Pathogenomics of mycobacteria. Genome Dynamics. Massive gene decay in the leprosy bacillus.

A new Mycobacterium species causing diffuse lepromatous leprosy. American Journal of Clinical Pathology. Comparative sequence analysis of Mycobacterium leprae and the new leprosy-causing Mycobacterium lepromatosis.

Journal of Bacteriology. Leprosy as a genetic model for susceptibility to common infectious diseases. Human Genetics. Nature Genetics. Journal of Infectious Diseases. Genes and Immunity. Human TLR1 deficiency is associated with impaired mycobacterial signaling and protection from leprosy reversal reaction. Common polymoiphisms in the NOD2 gene region are associated with leprosy and Its reactive states. What Is Leprosy? Weddell G, Palmer E. The pathogenesis of leprosy. An experimental approach.

Large numbers of Mycobacterium leprae are discharged from the intact skin of lepromatous patients; A preliminary report. Shepard CC. Acid-fast bacilli in nasal excretions in leprosy, and results of inoculation of mice. American Journal of Epidemiology. Pedley JC. The nasal mucus in leprosy. The nasal discharge in leprosy: clinical and bacteriological aspects. Airborne infection with Mycobacterium leprae in mice.

Journal of Medical Microbiology. Transmission of leprosy in nude mice. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. Montestruc E, Berdonneau R. Mycobacterium leprae -host-cell interactions and genetic determinants in leprosy: an overview.

Future Microbiology. However, the vaccine against tuberculosis TB , called the BCG vaccine, may provide some protection against leprosy. This is because the organism that causes leprosy is closely related to the one that causes TB. This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:. Acne is common and can make people of all ages feel embarrassed, but treatments can help if acne is causing distress.

Anthrax is a rare but potentially fatal bacterial disease that occasionally infects humans. The Western obsession with cleanliness may be partly responsible for the increase in allergic asthma and conditions such as rhinitis. Careful prescribing of antibiotics will minimise the emergence of antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria.

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