Leprosy Flashcards
What is Hansen’s disease?
leprosy
Describe leprosy.
chronic granulomatous disesase, affecting peripheral nerves and superficial tissues, especially in nasal mucosa.
What is causative agent of leprosy?
mycobacterium leprae.
How is lepsrosy transmitted?
small droplets from nasal secretions of lepromatous leprosy patients
How long is incubation period of leprosy?
2-7 years
Describe M. leprae
obligate intracellular parasite of macrophages and Schwann cells. Also neurons.
What determines xtent of disease?
degree of T cell-mediated immunity. Lepromatous cases lack TH1 mediators.
Are tuberculous leprosy patients contagious?
typically no. but there are small numbers of bugs in the lesions
Describe tuberculoid leprosy.
single skin lesions on face, limbs and buttocks. Some peripheral nerve involvment.
Describe lepromatous leprosy.
progressive disease with edema, rhinitis, lesions on face, buttocks and limbs. severe damag. Microbe spresads to the RES system.
How is M. leprae cultured?
It cannot be cultured, unlike M. tuberculosis
How is M. leprae diagnosed?
skin biopsies.
