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Armadillos Cause Leprosy
Led by Richard Truman of the National Hansen's Disease Program in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, researchers used DNA testing to prove that a strain of Mycobacterium leprae not found anywhere else in the world was present in 28 out of 33 wild armadillos and 25 out of 39 U.S. patients who lived in areas where the animals lived.
The bacterium Mycobacterium leprae manifests itself in skin lesions it also affects peripheral nerves, the eyes and the mucosa of the upper respiratory tract. But most people are immune to it and only repeated exposures makes a person get leprosy. And then it can only be cured by a long-term regimen of the antibiotics dapsone, rifampicin and clofazimine.
Earlier studies had established that armadillos carry the leprosy bacteria, for people who lived in areas where armadillos are common, mostly Texas and Louisiana, were affected although they had not come into contact with others who had the disease. The strain of leprosy known as 3I-2v1, was identified in five southern states, suggesting that it moves quickly between armadillos and moves from the animals to humans. The armadillos prove to be ready hosts to the bacteria because of their lower body temperature of 89 degrees F.
Researchers say frequent contact with the animals, or cooking and consuming armadillo meat should be prohibited.
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