TB Research

Mycobacterium leprae Infection in a Wild Nine-Banded Armadillo, Nuevo León, Mexico

Vera-Cabrera L, Ramos-Cavazos CJ, Youssef NA, Pearce CM, Molina-Torres CA, Avalos-Ramirez R, Gagneux S, Ocampo-Candiani J, et al. (14 authors)

Emerging infectious diseases · 2022-03

Abstract

Nine-banded armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus) are naturally infected with Mycobacterium leprae and are implicated in the zoonotic transmission of leprosy in the United States. In Mexico, the existence of such a reservoir remains to be characterized. We describe a wild armadillo infected by M. leprae in the state of Nuevo León, Mexico.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Armadillos
  • Mycobacterium leprae
  • Leprosy
  • Disease Reservoirs
  • Mexico