Poster 8: Leprosy in Armadillos

Question 1

Pathogen?

Answer 1

• mycobacterium leprae

Question 2

Background

Answer 2

• grows in areas with lower temperatures such as skin, limbs, peripheral nerves, mucosal surfaces of upper respiratory tract and eyes
• long incubation period of 3-5 years

Question 3

tuberculoid form

Answer 3

• far more infective
• nasal secretions heavily infected
• efficient granulomatous macrophage response
• no antibody production
• persistent/chronic delayed hypersensitivity reaction

Question 4

lepromatous form

Answer 4

• presents as localized lesions with an erythematous plaque, raised margins, and a flat, hypo pigmented centre
• very few lymphocytes
• inert, vacuolated, or foamy, may be distended with bacilli

Question 5

Transmission to humans

Answer 5

• spread through handling or consumption of armadillos
• spread from nasal secretions
• can spread via fomites but most occurrences due to long term contact with infected host

Question 6

Prevention and spread

Answer 6

• contact with armadillo products should be limited

- reported in 0.5-10% of armadillos

Question 7

Clinical signs

Answer 7

• armadillos prone to systemic leprosy because of their low body temperature
• 15% of animals express resistance
• infections display as non-erythmatoud, lepromatous form
• display character nerve involvement and basically
• dissemination of infection can be observed in skin, bone marrow, liver, spleen, lymph nodes, esophagus
• wild carrier show little signs of deformity or impairment - damage restricted to internal organs

Question 8

Control strategies

Answer 8

• barriers such as fences, reducing watering and fertilizing lawn, live trapping, eliminating acclimatized individuals in legal states