Mycobacterium leprae in Nine-Banded Armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus), Ecuador
Romero-Alvarez D, Calvopiña M, Cisneros-Vásquez E, Garzon-Chavez D, Warren AK, Bennett LS, Janapati RR, Bastidas-Caldes C, et al. (15 authors)
Emerging infectious diseases · 2024-12
Abstract
We found Mycobacterium leprae, the most common etiologic agent of Hansen disease or leprosy, in tissues from 9 (18.75%) of 48 nine-banded armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus) collected across continental Ecuador. Finding evidence of a wildlife reservoir is the first step to recognizing leprosy zoonotic transmission pathway in Ecuador or elsewhere.
MeSH terms
- Animals
- Animals, Wild
- Armadillos
- Mycobacterium leprae
- Leprosy
- Disease Reservoirs
- Ecuador