Gerhard Armauer Hansen demonstrated the organism for the first time in 1873
LEPROSY (HANSEN’S DISEASE)
Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, an acid-fast, rod-shaped bacillus that mainly affects the skin, peripheral nerves, mucosa of the upper respiratory tract and eyes.
THE ORGANISM ( Mycobacterium leprae )
-Genhard Hansen demonstrated the organism for the time in 1873.
-Morphology: a slow growing rod-shaped acid fast bacillus
-Doubling time: 2 weeks
CHARACTERISTICS - does not grow in laboratory media - only grows in mice, armadillo, monkey & man
HABITAT Schwann cell of peripheral nerves Skin and Mucous membrane
Mode of Transmission:
Respiratory – droplet infection in 95% of cases, Skin – open wounds in 5% of cases
Leprosy is diagnosed by finding at least one of the following cardinal signs:
- Loss of sensation of skin patch
- Enlargement of peripheral nerves
- Presence of acid-fast bacilli in a Slit Skin Smear (SSS)
